Compare towns
Blackstone vs Chaplin vs Franklin vs Barre
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 renters (26.8% rent).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Chaplin | Franklin | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,255Highest |
2,070 |
2,004Lowest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
40.3±4.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Barre and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Blackstone 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% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Barre 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. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$105,000±$10k 30% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Barre and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,400±$34kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| Blackstone and Barre 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. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Blackstone 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. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Barre 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% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Blackstone 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 | — | — | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Franklin School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— | 12.9 |
| 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.