What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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	Webster
People
Population	9,255Lowest	17,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±1.7Highest 8% above MA	39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average
	Blackstone and Webster 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%	19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Blackstone and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Webster 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 MA: 47.3%	25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,191±$21kHighest 9% below MA	$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA
	Blackstone and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,400±$34kHighest 28% below MA	$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA
	Blackstone and Webster 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	$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA
	Webster and Blackstone 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	$3,999Lowest 33% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8%	45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Blackstone and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest MA: 10%	12.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 16% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6%	8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#207 of 282 in MA	#271 of 282 in MA
School district	Blackstone-Millville	Webster
High school in town	Blackstone Millville RHS	Bartlett High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	11.6Lowest
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.