Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Dudley vs Hardwick 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
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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.
| Measure | Woonsocket | Dudley | Hardwick | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 43,521Highest |
11,929 |
2,684Lowest |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Blackstone 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% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest 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+ | 14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Blackstone 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% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$94,191±$21kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Blackstone and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Blackstone and Dudley 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. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,960 27% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Hardwick 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #37 of 38 in RI | #142 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Quabbin | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
14.3 |
— | 13.6Lowest |
| 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.