What stands out worked out from the figures below

Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k median).

Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Blackstone	Sharon
People
Population	9,255Lowest	18,574Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±1.7Highest 8% above MA	42.5±1Lowest 6% above MA
	Blackstone and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sharon and Blackstone 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%	17.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Blackstone and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	76.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA	$191,835±$19kHighest 85% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,400±$34kLowest 28% below MA	$737,100±$33kHighest 31% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA	$2,310±$345Highest 31% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,703Lowest 5% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8%	49%±16.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Blackstone and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest MA: 10%	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 16% above MA	39 minHighest 33% above MA
Work from home	17.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	31.5%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#207 of 282 in MA	#23 of 282 in MA
School district	Blackstone-Millville	Sharon
High school in town	Blackstone Millville RHS	Sharon High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.