ATTLEBORO (ALSO NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH & SOUTH ATTLEBORO)       Attleboro, Massachusetts is a middle-class community with a median household income of $41,983. With a population of about 27,000, it is bordered by Cumberland, RI to the west; Plainville to the north; Mansfield to the east; and Rehoboth to the south. Fifty-three percent of the population are high school graduates, with nearly 40% college educated. Ninety-seven percent of the population is Caucasian. The median household income is about $42,000. The average home is valued at $156,000, with the monthly rent averaging $500. Most residents are employed in the areas of wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, or service occupations. BRISTOL       Bristol, Rhode Island is one of Rhode Island's pretty waterfront communities, bordering on Warren on the East Bay. America's largest and oldest Fourth of July parade marches down its main street each year, and to have a home on the parade route is a selling point. Nearly half its residents are Portuguese while a quarter are of Italian descent. The median family income is $40,000 while the average age is about 34. Nearly 20% of residents have a bachelor's degree or better, with unemployment in the town at about 7%. Most people work in retail trade, sales, or administrative positions. The average home is valued at $152,000, with the average rent being just over $400 a month. CRANSTON       Cranston, Rhode Island's third largest city, lies south of Providence and is also bordered by Johnston, Warwick, and Scituate. Over a third of its residents are of Italian descent, and the city is a mixture of suburban and rural areas. The average family income is about $42,000 while the average age is 37. Three-quarters of residents are high school graduates, with 21% having a bachelor's degree or better. The majority of Cranston residents are employed in administrative, clerical, professional, or managerial work or are in sales. The average home is valued at $130,000 with the average rent about $460 per month. DIGHTON       Dighton, in southeastern Massachusetts, is a mixture of rural and suburban settings. The town is bordered by Taunton, Somerset, Swansea, and Rehoboth. Over two-thirds of Dighton households contain married couples and their families, with the median household income at $40,800. The average home is valued at $147,500, with most houses being single-family homes. About three-quarters of the residents are high school graduates, with nearly 20% holding bachelor's degrees or higher. The majority of residents are employed in retail trades, in manufacturing, or in farming. EAST GREENWICH       East Greenwich is a middle-class, fairly affluent suburban community southwest of Providence. It is bordered by West Greenwich, Warwick, West Warwick, and North Kingstown. The majority of residents are of Irish, English, Italian, German, or French ancestry. Median household income is $50,900, with a median age of 38. Bachelor's degrees are held by 44% of the population. The average home is valued at $228,000, with the majority of houses being single-family homes with three or four bedrooms. Most residents hold executive, administrative, or professional positions. EAST PROVIDENCE       East Providence is a suburb of Providence bordered also by Pawtucket and Barrington, Rhode Island and by Seekonk, Massachusetts. The affluent Rumford section is part of East Providence, as is Riverside, which borders on Narragansett Bay. With a population of about 51,000, East Providence residents are comprised mostly of individuals of Portuguese and Irish ancestry. The median household income is $31,000, and the average age is 37. Two-thirds of its residents are high school graduates, with 16% attaining a bachelor's degree or better. Most residents hold positions in administrative or clerical fields, manufacturing, or precision production, or they hold professional positions. The average home sells for $122,500, while the average rent is $415. FALL RIVER       Fall River is an industrial community in southeastern Massachusetts with a large Portuguese population. Fall River borders on Somerset, Freetown, Dartmouth, Westport, Tiverton, and Mount Hope Bay. Residents between the ages of 15 and 44 make up 44% of the population, with those 45 and over making up 35%. The median household income is $22,500, with the typical home valued at $127,800 and the average monthly rent about $275. Nearly 50% of residents are high school graduates, while 8% have bachelor's degrees or better. The high school dropout rate is nearly 10%. Over half the population works in manufacturing, with other in service occupations and retail trades. Fall River is home to Bristol Community College as well as the Battleship Massachusetts and the Marine Museum. FOSTER       Located on the Connecticut border, Foster is one of Rhode Island's most rural towns, ranking 36th out of 39 communities in the state. Several years ago there were only 84 people per square mile, although that may have changed with a handful of new housing developments going up in the town. Zoning is still very strict in Foster, allowing the community to retain its rural flavor. Most residents are of English descent, with the average income around $40,000 per year. About a quarter of the population hold a bachelor's degree or better. Most employed residents hold professional or managerial positions, with a significant amount self-employed. The average home is valued at about $140,000. FOXBORO       Foxboro, Massachusetts has a population of 15,000 and is home to the New England Patriots football team. Bordered by Wrentham, Plainville, Norfolk, Walpole, Sharon, and Mansfield, the town has both rural and suburban areas. Nearly half its residents are between the ages of 15 and 44. Median household income is $45,400. The average home costs $170,000, while the average monthly rent is $600. A fourth of the population has a bachelor's degree or higher degree. Most residents work in manufacturing, in the retail trade, or in service occupations. FRANKLIN       The landscape of Franklin, Massachusetts ranges from rural to suburban. Bordered by Wrentham, Bellingham, Medway, and Norfolk, Franklin is known for the styles of architecture preserved in the community. It is the site of Dean Junior College, a private institution. Over half its population is between the ages of 15 and 44. The median household income is $50,700. The average home is valued at $168,000, with the average rent about $500. Nearly 27% of residents have a bachelor's degree or higher. Most residents are employed in the areas of wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, service occupations, or government. GLENDALE / BURRILLVILLE       Located in the northwestern corner of Rhode Island, Burrillville is a rural town bordered by North Smithfield and Glocester in Rhode Island and Massachusetts and Connecticut to the north and west. Most residents are of French Canadian, Irish, of English descent. The median household income is $37,200, with an average age of 33. Seventy percent of residents are high school graduates, with 16% holding a bachelor's degree or better. The majority of residents are employed in service or clerical occupations, in manufacturing or retail trade, or are precision craftsmen. The average home is valued at $129,500 with monthly rents averaging about $400. HOPE VALLEY (HOPKINTON)       Hope Valley is a village in Hopkinton, one of the more rural and less populated areas of Rhode Island. Located in the southern part of the state, Hopkinton is bordered by Richmond, Exeter, Charlestown, and South Kingstown. The majority of residents are of English and Irish descent, with the median family income about $42,000. Median age is 33. About four-fifths of town residents have a high school diploma with a quarter having earned a bachelor's degree or better. Most are professionals or precision craftsmen or are employed in administrative, clerical, or service occupations. The average home in Richmond is valued at $135,500. JAMESTOWN       Jamestown is an island town located between Rhode Island's West Bay and Aquidneck Island. With a population of about 5,000, the great majority of residents are of Irish or English descent. Most families earn between $35,000 and $75,000 annually. The median age is 38, and 41% of residents have a bachelor's degree or better. Most residents hold professional or executive positions, with the average home valued at nearly $200,000. JOHNSTON       Johnston is a large, working class community located to the west of Providence. It is bordered also by Cranston, Scituate, and Smithfield. While much of Johnston is an urban setting that supports large industries, the areas to the west and north, bordering on Scituate and Smithfield, are quite rural. The majority of Johnston residents are of Italian descent, with a fair number of Irish and French ancestry as well. The median household income is $32,600, with the median age being 37. Bachelor's degrees are held by 13.5% of residents; nearly 67% hold high school diplomas. A large percentage of the population hold manufacturing, service, administrative, clerical, or managerial positions. MANSFIELD       Mansfield is located in southeastern Massachusetts and is surrounded by Attleboro, Norton, Sharon, Easton, and Foxboro. It is an industrial railroad town incorporated in 1775. Over half the population falls into the 15-44 age bracket, with the majority of households being married couples with young families. The median household income is $47,000. Over 86% of residents are high school graduates, and 29% have bachelor's degrees or better. The vast majority of residents are employed in manufacturing or retail trade occupations. The average employee commutes about a half-hour to work. Mansfield is home to the Great Woods concert site. MATTAPOISETT       Mattapoisett is set on Buzzard's Bay in Massachusetts not far from New Bedford. Mattapoisett is a resort town that began as a shipbuilding village a century ago, with many summer homes and estates that prevented it from becoming overdeveloped like other communities along the shore. Most households are inhabited by married couples with children, and nearly half of its residents are between the ages of 15 and 44. The median household income is $40,500, with the average home valued at $190,000. Rents in Mattapoisett average $535 monthly. Over 86% of residents are high school graduates, with 30% having attained a bachelor's degree or better. The high school dropout rate is extremely low. MIDDLETOWN       Middletown, located on Aquidneck Island, is situated between Portsmouth and Newport. Its nearly 19,000 residents are mostly of Irish, English, German, and Portuguese descent. The median household income is about $35,000, with the median age being 31. Of the total population, 85% are high school graduates while nearly 28% have earned bachelor's degrees or better. Most residents are employed in executive, administative, clerical, or service occupations or in retail trade. The average home in Middletown is valued at $160,400, with the median rent at over $600 per month. NEWPORT       Newport is a seaside community of 27,455 residents. It is at the tip of Aquidneck Island and borders on Middletown. Most residents are of Irish, English, German, Italian, and Portuguese descent. The median household income is $30,500 while the median age is 31.5 years. Thirty-two percent of the population hold bachelor's degrees. Newport is known for the mansions that once belonged to the nation's wealthiest families and its summer tourist industry. It is home to the Newport Naval Base. The majority of residents are employed in professional, retail trade, administrative, or service occupations. NORTH KINGSTOWN       Located in South County, North Kingstown borders on East Greenwich, Exeter, Portsmouth, and South Kingstown. It is a mostly rural town with a population of 25,000. The town is comprised mostly of individuals of Irish, English, and Italian descent, with a median age of 35 and a median family income of about $47,000. Over 86% of residents are high school graduates while 31% have a bachelor's degree or better. Most residents are employed in professional or managerial positions or in retail, administrative, or manufacturing jobs. The average home is valued at $152,000, with the typical monthly rent close to $500. PAWTUCKET       Pawtucket is Rhode Island's fourth largest city with an urban population of about 73,000. Located in the Blackstone Valley, Pawtucket is bordered by Providence, North Providence, Central Falls, Lincoln, Attleboro, East Providence, and Seekonk. Thirty percent of the population are high school graduates, while 13% have bachelor's degrees. The city has a large elderly population. Most residents are of Irish, French, Portuguese, or English descent. Nearly one in four residents are foreign-born, with twenty-eight percent speaking a language other than English at home. The median household income is $26,500. Most residents are employed in positions involving administrative or clerical work, manufacturing, or retail trade, or they are employed as craftsmen or machine operators. PLAINVILLE       Plainville is a small rural community in southeastern Massachusetts. It is bordered by Wrentham on the north; Foxboro on the east; Mansfield on the southeast; North Attleborough on the south; and Cumberland, RI on the west. Most households are occupied by married couples with families. Median household income is $41,758 annually. Forty-eight percent of the population is between the ages of 14 and 44, with 19% between 45 and 64. The residents are 97% Caucasian. The high school dropout rate is very low, below 1%. Eighteen percent of residents have a bachelor's degree or better. PROVIDENCE       Providence is the capital and largest city of Rhode Island with a majority of residents being of Italian, Irish, Hispanic, or African-American descent. Providence is centrally located and bordered by Pawtucket, East and North Providence, Johnston, Cranston, Warwick, and the waterfront where the port is located. The majority of family incomes range from $15,000 to $50,000 annually with about 7% of residents earning over $150,000. Of its residents 62% are high school graduates with a fifth of the population having earned a bachelor's degree or better. The majority of residents are employed in professional, administrative, manufacturing, or service occupations. The median value of a home in Providence is $113,000 with rents at about $400 per month. RAYNHAM       Raynham is a town of about 10,000 in southeastern Massachusetts. Bordered by Easton, Bridgewater, and Taunton, Raynham has a young population, with nearly half its residents between the ages of 15 and 44 years of age. Over two-thirds of its residents are families with young children. Nearly half the population earns between $35,000 and $75,000 annually, with a median household income of $44,900. The average home costs $158,000, with monthly rents averaging about $640. About 82% of residents are high school graduates, with a fifth holding a bachelor's degree or better. Most residents work in manufacturing or in retail trades. REHOBOTH       Rehoboth, in southeastern Massachusetts, is a mixture of rural and suburban settings. Located directly to the west of Providence, the town is bordered by Taunton, Seekonk, Swansea, Dighton, and Attleboro. Over two-thirds of Rehoboth households contain married couples and their families, with the median household income at $45,000. The average home is valued at $150,000, with most houses being single-family homes. About three-quarters of the residents are high school graduates, with nearly 20% holding bachelor's degrees or higher. The majority of residents are employed in retail trades, in manufacturing, or in farming. There is still a great deal of open land in Rehoboth, and many residents who were born in the town still reside there. SWANSEA       Swansea is a suburban/rural community of 15,100 citizens bordered by Somerset, Seekonk, Rehoboth, and Dighton. The town is comprised of mostly single-family dwellings with a few apartments. There is one high school, one junior high, and several elementary schools. Much of its revenue is generated by Swansea Mall. Median household income is $40,000 annually. Homes average $134,500, with monthly rents averaging $415. The great majority of residents are employed in the fields of wholesale and retail trade, with others in the service industry. TIVERTON       Tiverton is a small, somewhat affluent community located in southern Rhode Island. It is a rural/suburban seaside town with a fair amount of open space remaining. Most residents commute to Massachusetts or to Providence for work. Tiverton is bordered on the west by Narragansett Bay; on the east by Westport, MA; on the north by Fall River, MA; and on the south by Little Compton, RI. Most residents are of Portuguese, English, Irish, French Canadian, or Italian descent. Median household income is $36,000, while the median age is 37. Nineteen percent of residents hold bachelor's degrees. Most residents are employed in the areas of administration, retail, administrative or clerical, or precision production. WAKEFIELD       Wakefield is a small, quiet, suburban town located 2 miles from the beach in southern Rhode Island. Because it is a university town not far from the University of Rhode Island, there is a mix of ages in the town. Wakefield, located within South Kingstown, is mostly residential with little industry, with most residents of Irish, English, or Italian descent. Median family income is around $41,500, the average age is about 27, and 39% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or better. Most workers are employed in professional positions, service occupations, or administrative work. WALPOLE       Located in eastern Massachusetts 20 miles south of Boston, Walpole has a population of 22,000. The town is made up of rural and suburban areas as well as commercial and industrial sections. Walpole is bordered by Foxboro, Sharon, and Norwood, among other residential communities. The town was founded in 1721 by a group of sawmill residents who built along the Great Cedar Swamp. The average resident has a 25-minute commute to work, while 4.5 of the population is employed in the home. WARWICK       Warwick is Rhode Island's second largest city after Providence with a population of 85,500. It is both industrial and residential and is densely populated. Most residents are of Irish, English, Italian, or French ancestry. Bordering Warwick are Providence, Cranston, West Warwick, and East Greenwich, with Narragansett Bay to the east. Median household income is $35,800, while the avaerage age is 37. Twenty-one percent of residents have a bachelor's degree. Most residents are aged 25-39. The majority of residents are employed in positions that are administrative or clerical, managerial, or sales, or they are employed as craftsmen or manufacturers. WEST WARWICK       Located south of Providence in Kent County, West Warwick is a blue-collar middle-class community with an unemployment rate of about seven percent. The town is comprised mostly of residents of Italian, French, and Irish descent. Seventy percent of residents have a high school diploma, with nearly 15% holding a bachelor's degree. The majority of residents work in manufacturing holding administrative, clerical, sales, or management positions. The average home in West Warwick is valued at $123,000. WESTPORT       Westport, in southeastern Massachusetts, is a town of farms and pastoral scenery, with a few small businesses. It is the home of Horseneck Beach State Park and is surrounded by Tiverton, Little Compton, Dartmouth, and Fall River, with the Atlantic Ocean to the south. Most residents are between the ages of 15 and 45, with most households inhabited by married couples with families. The average income is about $40,000, with the typical home valued at $150,000. Nearly 17% of residents hold a bachelor's degree. Most residents are employed in retail trades, manufacturing, and construction. WOONSOCKET       Woonsocket is Rhode Island's northernmost community, set between Cumberland and North Smithfield. It is an urban area with a working class population of mainly French Canadian residents. The city has a high percentage of black, Asian, and Hispanic residents as well, although the city's heritage is overwhelmingly French Canadian. The majority of residents earn a family income of between $25,000-50,000, with a median household income of $25,500. The avergae age of a city resident is about 33. The city is one of Rhode Island's most self-contained areas, with its own Registry of Motor Vehicles and other facilities that make it possible for many old-time residents to function effectively without ever leaving Woonsocket. About half of the population are high school graduates, with 10% having a bachelor's degree or better. The vast majority of residents are employed in manufacturing or in retail. The average home is valued at $118,000, with the average monthly rent about $370.