Compare towns
Abington vs Ayer vs Bellingham
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%).
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
Bellingham has the most homeowners (78.9%).
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 | Ayer | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,053 |
3,098Lowest |
17,410Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.1±1.8 about the MA average |
42.1±6.9Highest 5% above MA |
38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
| Ayer and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.1%±3.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Abington and Bellingham 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% |
15.3%±5.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Ayer 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% MA: 47.3% |
37.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,400±$12kHighest 21% above MA |
$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
$125,307±$10k 21% above MA |
| Abington and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $539,600±$34kHighest 4% below MA |
$444,600±$43kLowest 21% below MA |
$450,700±$13k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,724±$250 about the MA average |
$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,836±$196Highest 4% above MA |
| Bellingham and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,045Highest 18% above MA |
$4,911Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,030 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11 MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Bellingham and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7% MA: 62.5% |
58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Abington | — | Bellingham |
| High school in town | Abington High | — | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 12.4Highest |
| 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.