Compare towns

Blackstone vs Putnam vs Windsor Locks vs Millbury

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 kids (21.8% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Millbury has the highest household income ($119k).

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.

MeasureBlackstonePutnamWindsor LocksMillbury
People
Population
9,255Lowest
9,292
12,579
13,961Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
+4.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±1.7
11% above U.S.
43.7±3Highest
12% above U.S.
41.4±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
42.6±3.1
10% above U.S.
Putnam and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.8%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3
U.S.: 22%
Blackstone and Millbury 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%
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Millbury 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Windsor Locks and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,191±$21k
17% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
$81,205±$13k
about the U.S. average
$118,790±$13kHighest
47% above U.S.
Millbury 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
22% above U.S.
$269,200±$11k
19% below U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
$450,100±$19kHighest
35% above U.S.
Millbury 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
16% below U.S.
$1,149±$44Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,394±$187
about the U.S. average
$1,623±$232Highest
15% above U.S.
Millbury and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,703Highest
83% above U.S.
$3,860
24% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
$5,406
73% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65%±18.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
43.5%±12.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Blackstone and Windsor Locks 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%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Highest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.8%±3.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Windsor Locks 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 #128 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT #202 of 282 in MA
School district Blackstone-Millville Putnam School District Windsor Locks School District Millbury
High school in town Blackstone Millville RHS Putnam High School Windsor Locks High School Millbury Junior/Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.6Highest
9.5
8.9Lowest
11.3
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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.