Compare towns
Bellingham vs Putnam vs Blackstone
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellingham has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Blackstone has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Putnam | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,325Lowest |
9,292Highest |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Bellingham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bellingham and Putnam 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam 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 20% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
| Bellingham and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,200±$23kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
| Bellingham and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,009±$358Highest 42% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,477 44% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.7%±25.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bellingham and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bellingham and Blackstone 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.