What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($359k median).

Blackstone has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).

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	North Brookfield	Blackstone
People
Population	4,760Lowest	9,255Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA	43.2±1.7Lowest 8% above MA
	North Brookfield and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Blackstone and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9%	18.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	North Brookfield and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	31.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%	1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	North Brookfield and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,285±$11kLowest 24% below MA	$94,191±$21kHighest 9% below MA
	Blackstone and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA	$404,400±$34kHighest 28% below MA
	Blackstone and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA	$1,189±$85Highest 33% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,176Lowest 30% below MA	$5,703Highest 5% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±15.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Blackstone and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.9%Highest MA: 10%	8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 28% above MA	34 minLowest 16% above MA
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Blackstone and North Brookfield 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	#270 of 282 in MA	#207 of 282 in MA
School district	North Brookfield	Blackstone-Millville
High school in town	North Brookfield High	Blackstone Millville RHS
Students per teacherat that high school	5.5Lowest	13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.