Compare towns
Blackstone vs Orange vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Shirley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Orange | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,255Highest |
7,573 |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7 8% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
| Shirley and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Blackstone 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% |
20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Orange and Shirley 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% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,191±$21k 9% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$122,365±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Shirley and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,400±$34k 28% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$427,600±$36kHighest 24% below MA |
| Shirley and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85 33% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
| Shirley 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 |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$5,156 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
9.0Lowest |
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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.