Compare towns
Blackstone vs Melrose vs Millville
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).
Melrose has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Millville has the most homeowners (86.9%).
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 | Melrose | Millville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,255 |
29,650Highest |
3,160Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7Lowest 8% above MA |
43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
46±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
| Millville and Melrose 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% |
20.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
17.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Blackstone and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Melrose 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% MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Melrose and Millville 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 |
$133,953±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$127,188±$32k 22% above MA |
| Melrose and Millville 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 |
$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA |
$444,600±$25k 21% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,970±$149Highest 12% above MA |
$1,468±$234 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703 5% below MA |
$7,578Highest 26% above MA |
$5,327Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
36.2%±24.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #207 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA | #180 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Melrose | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | Melrose High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
12.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.