What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Winchendon has the most homeowners (76.6%).

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	Winchendon
People
Population	43,521Highest	10,440Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S.	39.6±1.9Highest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Woonsocket and Winchendon 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%	16.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Winchendon and Woonsocket 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%	21.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Woonsocket and Winchendon 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.	$75,690±$14kHighest 6% below U.S.
	Winchendon and Woonsocket 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.	$323,800±$19kHighest about the U.S. average
	Winchendon and Woonsocket 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.	$1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S.
	Winchendon and Woonsocket 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.	$3,780Lowest 21% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Winchendon 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%	18.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	76.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Winchendon 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	#269 of 282 in MA
School district	RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket	Winchendon
High school in town	Woonsocket High School	Murdock High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.2Highest	11.3Lowest
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.