Compare towns
Blackstone vs Brooklyn vs Hampton vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Blackstone has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Brooklyn has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
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.
| Measure | Blackstone | Brooklyn | Hampton | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,255Highest |
8,517 |
1,647Lowest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,191±$21kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley and Hampton 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 | #207 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT | — | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Brooklyn School District | Hampton School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.