Compare towns
Blackstone vs Townsend vs Woonsocket vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Barre has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Blackstone | Townsend | Woonsocket | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,255 |
9,100 |
43,521Highest |
5,572Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Barre and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703 83% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Blackstone and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #207 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | North Middlesex | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | North Middlesex Regional | Woonsocket High School | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
13.1 |
15.2Highest |
12.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.