Compare towns

Plainfield vs Woonsocket vs Ashfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Ashfield has the most expensive homes ($401k 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.

MeasurePlainfieldWoonsocketAshfield
People
Population
616Lowest
43,521Highest
1,893
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±9.5
30% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
58.6±3.4Highest
51% above U.S.
Ashfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±9.3
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.4%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.5%±7.1
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.7%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ashfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$63,500±$14k
21% below U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$80,833±$16kHighest
about the U.S. average
Ashfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$309,000±$47kLowest
7% below U.S.
$311,000±$15k
7% below U.S.
$400,600±$30kHighest
20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,292±$558Highest
9% below U.S.
$1,161±$48
18% below U.S.
$1,100±$200Lowest
22% below U.S.
Plainfield and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,458
43% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$5,197Highest
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
62.5%±34Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ashfield and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
44% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
30 min
13% above U.S.
Work from home
26.2%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Ashfield 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 —
School district — RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Mohawk Trail
High school in town — Woonsocket High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
15.2
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.