Compare towns

Woonsocket vs Westminster 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).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
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.

MeasureWoonsocketWestminsterBlackstone
People
Population
43,521Highest
8,374Lowest
9,255
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
48.3±4.6Highest
24% above U.S.
43.2±1.7
11% above U.S.
Westminster and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±4.4Lowest
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%
26%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Westminster and Blackstone 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%
45.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$106,331±$22kHighest
32% above U.S.
$94,191±$21k
17% above U.S.
Westminster 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.
$422,000±$36kHighest
27% above U.S.
$404,400±$34k
22% above U.S.
Westminster and Blackstone 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.
$1,843±$268Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,189±$85
16% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$4,973
59% above U.S.
$5,703Highest
83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
60%±27.3
U.S.: 51.1%
65%±18.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Blackstone and Westminster 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%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
11% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
Work from home
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.5%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Blackstone and Westminster 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 #112 of 282 in MA #207 of 282 in MA
School district RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Ashburnham-Westminster Blackstone-Millville
High school in town Woonsocket High School Oakmont Regional High School Blackstone Millville RHS
Students per teacherat that high school
15.2Highest
13.6Lowest
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.