What stands out worked out from the figures below

Blackstone has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).

Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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	Ludlow
People
Population	9,255Lowest	20,904Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±1.7Lowest 8% above MA	44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA
	Ludlow 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%	16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Blackstone and Ludlow 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%	21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Ludlow and Blackstone 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 MA: 47.3%	27%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,191±$21kHighest 9% below MA	$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA
	Blackstone and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,400±$34kHighest 28% below MA	$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA	$1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA
	Ludlow and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,703Highest 5% below MA	$4,918Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8%	50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Blackstone and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest MA: 10%	6.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	77.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 16% above MA	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6%	14%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Blackstone and Ludlow 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	#154 of 282 in MA
School district	Blackstone-Millville	Ludlow
High school in town	Blackstone Millville RHS	Ludlow Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.