What stands out worked out from the figures below

Abington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).

Bellingham has the most people working from home (18.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Abington	Bellingham
People
Population	17,053Lowest	17,410Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.1±1.8Highest about the MA average	38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA
	Abington and Bellingham 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%	22.1%±3.4Lowest 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%	14.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Bellingham and Abington 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%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%	3.2%±1.1Lowest 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±$12kHighest 21% above MA	$125,307±$10kLowest 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	$450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,724±$250Lowest about the MA average	$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	$5,030Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.7%±11Lowest 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%	5.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	78.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 14% above MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	15.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Bellingham and Abington 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
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

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.