What stands out worked out from the figures below

Blackstone has the most kids (21.8% under 18).

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).

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	Thompson
People
Population	9,255Lowest	9,337Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.2±1.7Lowest 11% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Thompson and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,191±$21kHighest 17% above U.S.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Blackstone and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,400±$34kHighest 22% above U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,189±$85Highest 16% below U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Blackstone and Thompson 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.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Blackstone and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Blackstone and Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Blackstone-Millville	Thompson School District
High school in town	Blackstone Millville RHS	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.