What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bellingham has the most people working from home (18%).

North Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).

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	Bellingham	North Brookfield
People
Population	5,325Highest	4,760Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+1.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44±7.6Lowest 10% above MA	45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA
	North Brookfield and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Bellingham and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.6%±4.6Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	North Brookfield and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,763±$14kHighest 7% below MA	$79,285±$11kLowest 24% below MA
	Bellingham and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,200±$23kHighest 23% below MA	$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,009±$358Highest 14% above MA	$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,477Highest 25% below MA	$4,176Lowest 30% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.7%±25.4Highest MA: 51.8%	52.4%±15.8Lowest 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%	12.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	69.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 18% above MA	37 minHighest 28% above MA
Work from home	18%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	13.1%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Bellingham and North Brookfield 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	#232 of 282 in MA	#270 of 282 in MA
School district	—	North Brookfield
High school in town	—	North Brookfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	5.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.