Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Needham 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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Blackstone has the oldest population (median age 43.2).
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 | Needham | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,521Highest |
32,459 |
9,255Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Blackstone and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Woonsocket 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% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Blackstone and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,703 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #37 of 38 in RI | #19 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | — | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | — | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
— | 13.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.