Compare towns
Sprague vs Woonsocket vs Baltic vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sprague has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
Woonsocket has the most expensive homes ($311k median).
Baltic has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).
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 | Sprague | Woonsocket | Baltic | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962 |
43,521Highest |
1,157Lowest |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7Highest 25% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
37.8±15.8 about the U.S. average |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Sprague and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 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+ | 19.9%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sprague and Baltic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,850±$11k 15% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$68,958±$47k 15% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,500±$17k 18% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$196,200±$27kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Woonsocket and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,247±$141Highest 12% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,668Highest 50% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$3,799Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.3%±13.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woonsocket and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling 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 | #141 of 149 in CT | #37 of 38 in RI | — | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | — | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.