Compare towns
Blackstone vs Windsor Locks vs Plainfield vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Blackstone has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Shirley 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.
| Measure | Blackstone | Windsor Locks | Plainfield | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,255 |
12,579 |
15,141Highest |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Shirley 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 17% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Shirley 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 22% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Shirley 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 16% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Windsor Locks 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Windsor Locks School District | Plainfield School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | Windsor Locks High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
8.9Lowest |
10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.