Compare towns
Bellingham vs Dover vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellingham has the youngest population (median age 44).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
North Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($359k 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 | Bellingham | Dover | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,325 |
5,930Highest |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.6Lowest 10% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA |
| North Brookfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| North Brookfield and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,763±$14k 7% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$79,285±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,200±$23k 23% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,009±$358 14% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
| Dover and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,477 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.7%±25.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Bellingham and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 18% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 18%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #232 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
5.5Lowest |
| 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.