Compare towns
Blackstone vs Petersham 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 people working from home (17.4%).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
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.
| Measure | Blackstone | Petersham | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,255 |
1,185Lowest |
15,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7 8% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest 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%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman and Petersham 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 |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
| Petersham 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±$34k 28% below MA |
$392,400±$20kLowest 30% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,679±$441 5% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Whitman and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703 5% below MA |
$4,636Lowest 23% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
8.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 16% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Blackstone and Petersham 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 | — | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Petersham | 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 |
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.