Compare towns
Blackstone vs Townsend vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Blackstone has the shortest commute (34 min average).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
Shirley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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.
| Measure | Blackstone | Townsend | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,255Highest |
9,100 |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7 8% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
| Shirley 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 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest 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%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$122,365±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Shirley and Townsend 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 |
$427,600±$36k 24% below MA |
| Townsend and Shirley 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±$313 17% below MA |
$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
| Shirley and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703 5% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Shirley 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% MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 16% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | North Middlesex | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
13.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.