What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Springfield has the most homeowners (49.6%).

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	Springfield
People
Population	43,521Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	35.7±1.3Highest 8% below U.S.	33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S.
Kids under 18	23.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%	24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Springfield and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Woonsocket and Springfield 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%	20.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,059±$5kHighest 24% below U.S.	$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,000±$15kHighest 7% below U.S.	$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,161±$48Highest 18% below U.S.	$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Woonsocket and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,960Highest 27% above U.S.	$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	18.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	49.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952 28 yrs older than U.S.	1952 28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±0.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Springfield 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	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket	Springfield
High school in town	Woonsocket High School	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.2Highest	12.2Lowest
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.