What stands out worked out from the figures below

Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k median).

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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	Blackstone	Douglas
People
Population	9,255Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±1.7Lowest 8% above MA	44±2.6Highest 10% above MA
	Douglas 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%	21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Blackstone and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9%	15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Blackstone and Douglas 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%	41.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,400±$34kLowest 28% below MA	$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA	$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA
	Douglas and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,703Lowest 5% below MA	$6,338Highest 6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8%	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Blackstone and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest MA: 10%	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 min 16% above MA	34 min 16% above MA
Work from home	17.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Douglas 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	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Blackstone-Millville	Douglas
High school in town	Blackstone Millville RHS	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

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.