Compare towns
Abington vs Bellingham vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Abington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Bellingham has the most affordable homes ($451k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Abington | Bellingham | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,053 |
17,410Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.1±1.8 about the MA average |
38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.1% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Abington and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,400±$12k 21% above MA |
$125,307±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $539,600±$34k 4% below MA |
$450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Upton and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,724±$250 about the MA average |
$1,836±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Bellingham and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,045 18% above MA |
$5,030Lowest 16% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Bellingham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 14% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Bellingham 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 | #143 of 282 in MA | #232 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Bellingham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | — | Bellingham High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.