What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).

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	Spencer
People
Population	43,521Highest	12,008Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S.	48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Spencer 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.	$80,533±$11kHighest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S.	$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,161±$48Highest 18% below U.S.	$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S.
	Woonsocket and Spencer 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.	$4,387Highest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Spencer 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%	11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	63%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Spencer 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	#261 of 282 in MA
School district	RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket	Spencer-E Brookfield
High school in town	Woonsocket High School	David Prouty High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.2Highest	9.9Lowest
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.