What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Cheshire has the most homeowners (89%).

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	Cheshire
People
Population	43,521Highest	3,216Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S.	53.7±4.5Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22%	15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	26.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Woonsocket and Cheshire 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.	$69,803±$14kHighest 14% below U.S.
	Cheshire and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,000±$15kHighest 7% below U.S.	$268,200±$48kLowest 19% below U.S.
	Woonsocket and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,161±$48 18% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,960Highest 27% above U.S.	$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	21.2%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Woonsocket and Cheshire 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%	8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.	1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	6.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	4.4%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Woonsocket and Cheshire 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	#274 of 282 in MA
School district	RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket	Hoosac Valley Regional
High school in town	Woonsocket High School	Hoosac Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.2Highest	10.5Lowest
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.