Compare towns

Bellingham vs Upton vs Bellingham

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 most renters (31.2% rent).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Bellingham has the youngest population (median age 38.2).

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.

MeasureBellinghamUptonBellingham
People
Population
5,325Lowest
8,189
17,410Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.8%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44±7.6
10% above MA
46.4±4.8Highest
16% above MA
38.2±1.5Lowest
4% below MA
Upton and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.4%±3.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
22.1%±3.4
MA: 19.4%
Upton 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%
20.7%±4.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
14.9%±2.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Upton 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%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
53.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
40.1%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.2%±1.1
MA: 7.9%
Bellingham 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±$14kLowest
7% below MA
$155,508±$33kHighest
50% above MA
$125,307±$10k
21% above MA
Upton and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$431,200±$23kLowest
23% below MA
$576,700±$41kHighest
about the MA average
$450,700±$13k
20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,009±$358Highest
14% above MA
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
$1,836±$196
4% above MA
Bellingham and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,477Lowest
25% below MA
$8,376Highest
40% above MA
$5,030
16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
74.7%±25.4Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31Lowest
MA: 51.8%
62.8%±16.6
MA: 51.8%
Bellingham and Bellingham 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%
3.2%
MA: 10%
5.7%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
68.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
78.9%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1973Lowest
9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minLowest
18% above MA
35 min
22% above MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
Work from home
18%±4.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
18.3%±2.7
MA: 18.6%
Upton and Bellingham 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 #46 of 282 in MA #232 of 282 in MA
School district — Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Bellingham
High school in town — Blackstone Valley Bellingham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.2Lowest
12.4Highest
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.