Compare towns
Abington vs Ayer vs Ogunquit vs Bellingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Abington has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Bellingham has the most affordable homes ($451k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,053 |
8,645 |
1,379Lowest |
17,410Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.1±1.8 about the U.S. average |
39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
38.2±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 55% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$125,307±$10k 55% above U.S. |
| 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±$34k 62% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$450,700±$13kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,724±$250 22% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,836±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
| 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 126% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,030 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.8%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Bellingham |
| High school in town | Abington High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
11.5 |
— | 12.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.