What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

North Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($359k median).

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	North Brookfield
People
Population	9,255Highest	4,760Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±1.7Lowest 8% above MA	45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA
	North Brookfield 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%	16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Blackstone and North Brookfield 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%	18.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9%
	North Brookfield 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%	26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	North Brookfield and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,191±$21kHighest 9% below MA	$79,285±$11kLowest 24% below MA
	Blackstone and North Brookfield 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	$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA
	Blackstone and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,189±$85Highest 33% below MA	$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,703Highest 5% below MA	$4,176Lowest 30% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8%	52.4%±15.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Blackstone and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest MA: 10%	12.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 16% above MA	37 minHighest 28% above MA
Work from home	17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6%	13.1%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Blackstone and North Brookfield 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	#270 of 282 in MA
School district	Blackstone-Millville	North Brookfield
High school in town	Blackstone Millville RHS	North Brookfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	5.5Lowest
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.