Compare towns

Ware vs Woonsocket vs Blackstone

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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.

MeasureWareWoonsocketBlackstone
People
Population
10,048
43,521Highest
9,255Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±4.7
11% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
43.2±1.7Highest
11% above U.S.
Blackstone and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±4
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Ware and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Woonsocket and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$67,475±$15k
16% below U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$94,191±$21kHighest
17% above U.S.
Blackstone and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$289,700±$28kLowest
13% below U.S.
$311,000±$15k
7% below U.S.
$404,400±$34kHighest
22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,043±$109Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,161±$48
18% below U.S.
$1,189±$85Highest
16% below U.S.
Blackstone and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,237
36% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$5,703Highest
83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.3%±16.2
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
65%±18.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Blackstone and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960
20 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1967Highest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
8% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
Work from home
12.3%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Blackstone and Ware 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 #267 of 282 in MA #37 of 38 in RI #207 of 282 in MA
School district Ware RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Blackstone-Millville
High school in town Ware Junior/Senior High School Woonsocket High School Blackstone Millville RHS
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
15.2Highest
13.6
On TownTapestry
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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.