Compare towns
Shirley vs Pomfret vs Blackstone
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Blackstone has the most renters (26.8% rent).
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 | Shirley | Pomfret | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,976 |
4,317Lowest |
9,255Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2 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+ | 36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$108,476±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Shirley and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,156Lowest 65% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$5,703 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley and Blackstone 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #39 of 149 in CT | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Pomfret School District | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.