What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most homeowners (94.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hampden	Woonsocket
People
Population	4,946Lowest	43,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.9±3.3Highest 31% above U.S.	35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S.
Kids under 18	14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	26.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Woonsocket and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,536±$16kHighest 29% above U.S.	$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$358,200±$16kHighest 8% above U.S.	$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,132±$107Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,161±$48Highest 18% below U.S.
	Woonsocket and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,181Highest 98% above U.S.	$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Woonsocket and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	9.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampden and Woonsocket 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	#199 of 282 in MA	#37 of 38 in RI
School district	Hampden-Wilbraham	RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town	None in town	Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	15.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.