Compare towns
Hamilton vs Pawtucket vs Woonsocket vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamilton has the oldest population (median age 43.5).
Pawtucket has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Groton has the highest household income ($193k).
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 | Hamilton | Pawtucket | Woonsocket | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,600Lowest |
75,893Highest |
43,521 |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
37.1±0.8 5% below U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Hamilton and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hamilton and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hamilton and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14k 61% above U.S. |
$68,310±$4k 15% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 116% above U.S. |
$325,500±$8k about the U.S. average |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Groton and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Highest 27% above U.S. |
$1,208±$39 15% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
| Hamilton and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,115 32% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±4.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hamilton and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Hamilton 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 | #36 of 282 in MA | #35 of 38 in RI | #37 of 38 in RI | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | William E. Tolman High | Woonsocket High School | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
14.6 |
15.2Highest |
13.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.