Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Hampton vs Blackstone vs North Smithfield
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).
Hampton has the most homeowners (90%).
North Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
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 | Hampton | Blackstone | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 43,521Highest |
1,647Lowest |
9,255 |
12,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
| Hampton and North Smithfield 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% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2Lowest 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket and North Smithfield 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. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12k 35% above U.S. |
| Hampton and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
| Hampton and North Smithfield 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. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
$5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
$5,219 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Hampton 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Blackstone 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 | — | #207 of 282 in MA | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Hampton School District | Blackstone-Millville | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | None in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
— | 13.6 |
12.1Lowest |
| 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.



