Compare towns
Blackstone vs Ware vs Barre 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 people working from home (17.4%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Ware | Barre | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,255 |
10,048 |
5,572Lowest |
43,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below 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% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% 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%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Woonsocket 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. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Barre and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,400±$34kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
| Blackstone and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
| Blackstone and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Ware 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% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Blackstone and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Ware | Quabbin | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Quabbin Regional High School | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
11.1Lowest |
12.9 |
15.2Highest |
| 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.