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Blackstone ViaductBlackstone Viaduct · Photo: Pi.1415926535 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Blackstone

Blackstone spent less per resident in 2022 than 100% of similar towns

Blackstone’s town government spent $22.2 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $2,409 per resident. Water and other utilities ($994,000) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Massachusetts.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$22.2M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$2,409
In 2022: $2,409, less than 100% of 50 similar towns
Long-term debt
$3.8M
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
74
full-time · 39 part-time · March payroll $504,756
Typical tax bill
$5,703
1.41% of home value · MA 1.07%

What stands out about how Blackstone is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$2,409 per resident in 2022: less than 100% of them

Blackstone’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,409 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 50 Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,188, and the middle half spent $3,428–$5,633. Blackstone spent less than 100% of them.

Middle half of the group, $3,428–$5,633Median $4,188Blackstone

Includes sewer and trash ($1.5 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
50

Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Blackstone itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $2,409 per resident a year, or $6.60 a day

Schools are part of the town’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 46% of day-to-day spending.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 74%From the state 9%Fees & charges 6%Utility sales 4%Interest, fines & other 3%From the federal government 3%Other taxes & licenses 1%Sales taxes 1%
Schools included

Blackstone runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that run their own schools.

Not in the receipt.Building projects $4.6 million; interest on debt $184,000; payments to other governments $1.6 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $29.5 million.
Over the years

No trend yet

Blackstone reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $5,703 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.41% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Massachusetts$5,992
Blackstone$5,703
Millville$5,327
Bellingham$5,030
Woonsocket$3,960
$5,703
typical bill a year
1.41%
effective rate
$404,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Blackstone’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Tax bills are one input to Blackstone’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Blackstone →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Blackstone

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See townofblackstone.org for Blackstone’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Blackstone yet.townofblackstone.org ↗
Agendas

Blackstone’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on townofblackstone.org ↗.

Who works for Blackstone

One full-time town employee for every 124 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (9,209).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Police21 + 18 pt
Administration & buildings10 + 7 pt
Fire13
Roads & transportation13
Health & welfare10
Parks & libraries4 + 12 pt
Sewer & trash3
Other0 + 2 pt
74
full-time
39
part-time
$504,756
payroll for March 2022
$6.1M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$73,200
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
17
sworn police officers
13
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Blackstone had 8.0 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 24 of the 50 Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 27.0: Blackstone had fewer than 100% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Blackstone-Millville School District

Blackstone’s K–12 school district, shared with Millville. The schools are run by Blackstone, so this money is part of the budget above.

Schools in Blackstone →
$20,011
per pupil · MA $26,530
1,450
students
$1.3 million
long-term debt

Of the $20,011 per pupil, $12,474 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 45%State 46%Federal 9%

Massachusetts districts overall: 49% local, 43% state, 8% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

How Blackstone voted in 2024

Official results for Blackstone’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President5,116 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican54.4%2,783 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat43.9%2,245 votes

Others: 1.7% (88 votes).

Most votes in Blackstone: Donald J Trump

Worcester County: Harris 53.6%, Trump 43.7% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%

Turnout
75%

of Blackstone’s 6,833 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. Senate5,028 votes
John DeatonRepublican57.9%
Elizabeth Ann WarrenDemocrat42.0%
Others0.0%

Most votes in Blackstone: John Deaton

Worcester County: Warren 51.9%, Deaton 48.0% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%

U.S. House · Massachusetts’s 4th District297,725 votes
Jake AuchinclossDemocrat97.2%
All Others2.4%
Others0.4%

Most votes in the district: Jake Auchincloss

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Blackstone, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Blackstone54.4%43.9%1.7%5,116
Worcester County43.7%53.6%2.7%420,841
Massachusetts36.0%61.2%2.8%3,473,668
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Blackstone

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Blackstone.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
  2. 2
    Massachusetts HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Massachusetts SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Massachusetts

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Blackstone compares with the towns next door

Blackstone spent $2,409 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $989 to $4,301. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Millville$989$5,327
Bellingham$4,301 runs schools$5,030
Blackstone$2,409$5,703

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Blackstone’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Blackstone’s government

How much does Blackstone spend per resident?

About $2,409 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $2,409 was less than 100% of 50 Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Blackstone?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $5,703 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.41% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see townofblackstone.org.

Who runs Blackstone’s government?

See townofblackstone.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Blackstone yet.

How did Blackstone vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 54.4%, Kamala D Harris 43.9% (5,116 votes, official results). Worcester County: Harris 53.6%, Trump 43.7%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.

How many people work for Blackstone?

74 full-time and 39 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $504,756 (about $6.1M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Blackstone in the state legislature?

State Senate District Worcester and Hampden (Ryan Fattman) and State House District 8th Worcester (Mike Soter). The House district also covers four other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Blackstone’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →