Compare towns

Blackstone vs Dedham vs Millbury

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Millbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).

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.

MeasureBlackstoneDedhamMillbury
People
Population
9,255Lowest
25,237Highest
13,961
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2.6%
MA: +7.4%
+4.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±1.7
8% above MA
44.6±1.6Highest
12% above MA
42.6±3.1Lowest
7% above MA
Dedham and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.8%±4Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.6%±1.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20.9%±3
MA: 19.4%
Blackstone and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±4.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±2Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.2%±2.7
MA: 17.9%
Dedham and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
55%Highest
MA: 47.3%
36.1%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.6%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.6%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
Dedham and Millbury 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
9% below MA
$128,955±$10kHighest
24% above MA
$118,790±$13k
14% above MA
Dedham and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$404,400±$34kLowest
28% below MA
$661,800±$16kHighest
18% above MA
$450,100±$19k
20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,189±$85Lowest
33% below MA
$2,042±$182Highest
16% above MA
$1,623±$232
8% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,703
5% below MA
$7,918Highest
32% above MA
$5,406Lowest
10% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65%±18.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±10
MA: 51.8%
43.5%±12.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Blackstone and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8%Highest
MA: 10%
5.6%
MA: 10%
5%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
73.4%
MA: 62.5%
75.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Highest
3 yrs newer than MA
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1965
1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
16% above MA
29 min
about the MA average
29 minLowest
about the MA average
Work from home
17.4%±4.7
MA: 18.6%
20%±2.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
14.8%±3.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Dedham 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 #119 of 282 in MA #202 of 282 in MA
School district Blackstone-Millville Dedham Millbury
High school in town Blackstone Millville RHS Dedham High Millbury Junior/Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.6Highest
10.4Lowest
11.3
On TownTapestry
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MA 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.