Compare towns
Shirley vs Putnam 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 highest household income ($122k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Blackstone has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Putnam | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,976Lowest |
9,292Highest |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Putnam 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$94,191±$21k 17% 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 | $427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$404,400±$34k 22% 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 | $1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
| Shirley and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,156 65% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Putnam School District | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| 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.