What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).

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	Oakham
People
Population	43,521Highest	1,639Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S.	49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Woonsocket and Oakham 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%	21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Woonsocket and Oakham 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.	$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S.	$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S.	$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S.
	Oakham and Woonsocket 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.	$4,103Highest 32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Woonsocket and Oakham 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%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	39 minHighest 46% above U.S.
Work from home	6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Oakham and Woonsocket 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	—
School district	RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket	Quabbin
High school in town	Woonsocket High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	15.2	—
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.