Compare towns

Woonsocket vs Lawrence 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 affordable homes ($311k median).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
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.

MeasureWoonsocketLawrenceBlackstone
People
Population
43,521
88,736Highest
9,255Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35.7±1.3
8% below U.S.
32.6±0.9Lowest
16% below U.S.
43.2±1.7Highest
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.3%±2
U.S.: 22%
26.3%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Lawrence and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
10.5%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Blackstone 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
16.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Lawrence 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±$5k
24% below U.S.
$60,433±$3kLowest
25% below U.S.
$94,191±$21kHighest
17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$415,200±$23kHighest
25% above U.S.
$404,400±$34k
22% above U.S.
Lawrence 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.
$1,662±$50Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,189±$85
16% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,960
27% above U.S.
$3,422Lowest
10% above U.S.
$5,703Highest
83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
60.6%±3.6
U.S.: 51.1%
65%±18.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Blackstone and Lawrence 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%
17.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
28.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952
28 yrs older than U.S.
1950Lowest
30 yrs older than U.S.
1967Highest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
11% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
Work from home
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.8%±1.2
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 #278 of 282 in MA #207 of 282 in MA
School district RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Lawrence Blackstone-Millville
High school in town Woonsocket High School Lawrence High School Blackstone Millville RHS
Students per teacherat that high school
15.2Highest
13.6Lowest
13.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.