Compare towns

Blackstone vs Wakefield vs Woonsocket

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 homeowners (73.2%).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).

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.

MeasureBlackstoneWakefieldWoonsocket
People
Population
9,255Lowest
27,793
43,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±1.7Highest
11% above U.S.
42.4±1.7
9% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
Blackstone and Wakefield 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%
20%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
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%
19%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wakefield 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%
59.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Woonsocket and Wakefield 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.
$134,306±$14kHighest
66% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$404,400±$34k
22% above U.S.
$723,500±$24kHighest
117% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,189±$85
16% below U.S.
$1,958±$102Highest
39% above U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,703
83% above U.S.
$7,779Highest
149% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65%±18.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Blackstone and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Highest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1956
24 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
33 min
26% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Wakefield and Blackstone 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 #179 of 282 in MA #37 of 38 in RI
School district Blackstone-Millville Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town Blackstone Millville RHS Northeast Metro Regional Vocational Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.6
10.7Lowest
15.2Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.