What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).

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	Townsend
People
Population	9,255Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±1.7Highest 8% above MA	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average
	Blackstone and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4%	21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Blackstone and Townsend 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%	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Blackstone and Townsend 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%	35.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA
	Townsend 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±$34kLowest 28% below MA	$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA
	Townsend and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA	$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA
	Townsend and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,703Lowest 5% below MA	$6,031Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Blackstone and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 16% above MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Blackstone and Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Blackstone-Millville	North Middlesex
High school in town	Blackstone Millville RHS	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	13.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.