What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middletown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

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

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	Middletown	Blackstone
People
Population	16,832Highest	9,255Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2Highest 13% above U.S.	43.2±1.7Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Middletown and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Blackstone and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Middletown and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,948±$6kHighest 26% above U.S.	$94,191±$21kLowest 17% above U.S.
	Middletown and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$563,300±$46kHighest 69% above U.S.	$404,400±$34kLowest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,990±$170Highest 41% above U.S.	$1,189±$85Lowest 16% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,153Highest 97% above U.S.	$5,703Lowest 83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Blackstone and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	10.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Blackstone and Middletown 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	#23 of 38 in RI	#207 of 282 in MA
School district	Middletown	Blackstone-Millville
High school in town	Middletown High School	Blackstone Millville RHS
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.