Compare towns
Shirley vs Union 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).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Union | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,976 |
944Lowest |
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. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Union 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% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Shirley 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Union 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. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above 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. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
— | $1,189±$85Lowest 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. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Blackstone 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Union 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.