Compare towns
Webster vs Woonsocket vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Hardwick has the most homeowners (68.2%).
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.
| Measure | Webster | Woonsocket | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748 |
43,521Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Webster and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Webster and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hardwick and Webster 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Woonsocket High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
15.2Highest |
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| 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.