What stands out worked out from the figures below

Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).

Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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	Springfield
People
Population	9,255Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±1.7Highest 8% above MA	33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA
Kids under 18	21.8%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Springfield 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%	13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,191±$21kHighest 9% below MA	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,400±$34kHighest 28% below MA	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,189±$85Highest 33% below MA	$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA
	Blackstone and Springfield 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	$3,695Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±3.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Blackstone and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest MA: 10%	25.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 16% above MA	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#207 of 282 in MA	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	Blackstone-Millville	Springfield
High school in town	Blackstone Millville RHS	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	12.2Lowest
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.