Compare towns
Hampton vs Woonsocket vs Sterling vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Union has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
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 | Hampton | Woonsocket | Sterling | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647 |
43,521Highest |
3,629 |
944Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$330,400±$26kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Union and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Hampton and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,364 40% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$4,793Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Sterling 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 | — | #37 of 38 in RI | #119 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Hampton School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Sterling School District | Union School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Woonsocket High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2 |
— | — |
| 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.



