What stands out worked out from the figures below

Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).

Barre has the most homeowners (75.8%).

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	Woonsocket	Barre
People
Population	43,521Highest	5,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S.	43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S.
	Barre and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22%	15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Barre and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	31.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barre and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S.	$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S.	$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,161±$48Highest 18% below U.S.	$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S.
	Woonsocket and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S.	$5,163Highest 66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Woonsocket and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.
Work from home	6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Barre 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	#37 of 38 in RI	#134 of 282 in MA
School district	RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket	Quabbin
High school in town	Woonsocket High School	Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.2Highest	12.9Lowest
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.