What stands out worked out from the figures below

Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

Blackstone has the most homeowners (73.2%).

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	Providence	Blackstone
People
Population	191,767Highest	9,255Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S.	43.2±1.7Highest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Blackstone and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,119±$3kLowest 16% below U.S.	$94,191±$21kHighest 17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,200±$8kLowest 9% above U.S.	$404,400±$34kHighest 22% above U.S.
	Blackstone and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average	$1,189±$85Lowest 16% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S.	$5,703Highest 83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Blackstone and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	14.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Blackstone and 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	#36 of 38 in RI	#207 of 282 in MA
School district	MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative	Blackstone-Millville
High school in town	Classical High School	Blackstone Millville RHS
Students per teacherat that high school	17.2Highest	13.6Lowest
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.