Compare towns
Ware vs Woonsocket vs Blackstone vs Petersham
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%).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
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 | Ware | Woonsocket | Blackstone | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
43,521Highest |
9,255 |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%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±1.7 11% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest 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%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%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% |
4%±1.7 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±$21k 17% above U.S. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Blackstone 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. |
$392,400±$20k 18% above U.S. |
| Blackstone and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Blackstone 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. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest 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% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%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. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% 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% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Blackstone and Petersham 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 | Petersham |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Woonsocket High School | Blackstone Millville RHS | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
15.2Highest |
13.6 |
— |
| 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.