What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).

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	North Providence	Blackstone
People
Population	34,293Highest	9,255Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±1.9Lowest 8% above U.S.	43.2±1.7Highest 11% above U.S.
	Blackstone and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Blackstone and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Providence and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,756±$6kLowest 4% above U.S.	$94,191±$21kHighest 17% above U.S.
	Blackstone and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$355,900±$12kLowest 7% above U.S.	$404,400±$34kHighest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,405±$64Highest about the U.S. average	$1,189±$85Lowest 16% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,843Lowest 55% above U.S.	$5,703Highest 83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.7%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Blackstone and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 3% above U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	12.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Blackstone and North Providence 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	#26 of 38 in RI	#207 of 282 in MA
School district	North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island	Blackstone-Millville
High school in town	North Providence High	Blackstone Millville RHS
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.