Compare towns

Blackstone vs Ware vs Millbury

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 most people working from home (17.4%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Millbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).

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.

MeasureBlackstoneWareMillbury
People
Population
9,255
6,369Lowest
13,961Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%
MA: +7.4%
+1.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±1.7Highest
8% above MA
39.8±6Lowest
about the MA average
42.6±3.1
7% above MA
Blackstone and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.8%±4
MA: 19.4%
23.3%±4.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
20.9%±3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Ware and Blackstone 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%
17.4%±3.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.2%±2.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
Millbury 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%
MA: 47.3%
15.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
36.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.6%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.9
MA: 7.9%
4.6%±1.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
Millbury and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,191±$21k
9% below MA
$45,158±$11kLowest
57% below MA
$118,790±$13kHighest
14% above MA
Millbury 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±$34k
28% below MA
$253,400±$31kLowest
55% below MA
$450,100±$19kHighest
20% below MA
Millbury and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,189±$85
33% below MA
$1,039±$104Lowest
41% below MA
$1,623±$232Highest
8% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,703Highest
5% below MA
$3,408Lowest
43% below MA
$5,406
10% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65%±18.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
64.5%±17.3
MA: 51.8%
43.5%±12.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Blackstone and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8%
MA: 10%
14.1%Highest
MA: 10%
5%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.2%
MA: 62.5%
57.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
75.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Highest
3 yrs newer than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1965
1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
16% above MA
27 minLowest
9% below MA
29 min
about the MA average
Work from home
17.4%±4.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
16.6%±5
MA: 18.6%
14.8%±3.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Blackstone and Ware 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 #267 of 282 in MA #202 of 282 in MA
School district Blackstone-Millville — Millbury
High school in town Blackstone Millville RHS — Millbury Junior/Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.6Highest
—
11.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.