Compare towns
Blackstone vs Ogunquit vs Shirley vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Shirley has the highest household income ($122k).
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
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 | Ogunquit | Shirley | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,255 |
1,379Lowest |
6,976 |
15,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Whitman 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 17% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14k 35% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,400±$34kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85Lowest 16% below U.S. |
— | $1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703 83% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #207 of 282 in MA | — | #239 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | — | Ayer Shirley School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.