Compare towns
Blackstone vs Northbridge vs Shirley
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).
Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Northbridge | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,255 |
16,458Highest |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7Lowest 8% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
| Shirley and Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Blackstone and Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Northbridge 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 |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$122,365±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Shirley and Northbridge 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 |
$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA |
$427,600±$36k 24% below MA |
| Northbridge and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
| Shirley and Northbridge 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 |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$5,156 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Northbridge | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
10.8Lowest |
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| 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.