Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Petersham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
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 | Petersham | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,521Highest |
1,185Lowest |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest 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% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket and Petersham 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. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Blackstone 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. |
$392,400±$20k 18% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Blackstone and Petersham 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. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
| Petersham and Blackstone 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. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
$5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Woonsocket 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% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Blackstone and Petersham 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 |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Petersham | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | None in town | 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.