Compare towns

Blackstone vs Pepperell vs Whitman

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).
Pepperell has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Whitman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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.

MeasureBlackstonePepperellWhitman
People
Population
9,255Lowest
11,663
15,295Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±1.7Highest
8% above MA
42.4±3.3
6% above MA
40.4±1.8Lowest
about the MA average
Blackstone and Pepperell 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%
20.1%±3.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.1%±3.5
MA: 19.4%
Blackstone and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±4.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.2%±2.3
MA: 17.9%
15.5%±2.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Blackstone and Pepperell 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%
43.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
31.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.6%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.7%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±1.2
MA: 7.9%
Pepperell 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
9% below MA
$124,073±$12kHighest
19% above MA
$108,933±$14k
5% above MA
Pepperell and Whitman 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
$482,100±$14kHighest
14% below MA
$472,700±$12k
16% below MA
Pepperell and Whitman 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
$1,295±$238
27% below MA
$1,771±$151Highest
about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,703Lowest
5% below MA
$6,698Highest
12% above MA
$5,824
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65%±18.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.1%±16.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
61.9%±13.4
MA: 51.8%
Blackstone and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8%Highest
MA: 10%
8%Highest
MA: 10%
7.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.2%
MA: 62.5%
84.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
71.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
3 yrs newer than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1957Lowest
7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
16% above MA
34 minLowest
16% above MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
Work from home
17.4%±4.7
MA: 18.6%
18.1%±2.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.8%±2.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Pepperell 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 #153 of 282 in MA #191 of 282 in MA
School district Blackstone-Millville North Middlesex Whitman-Hanson
High school in town Blackstone Millville RHS None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
13.6
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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.