Compare towns
Bellingham vs Upton 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
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Blackstone has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
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.
| Measure | Bellingham | Upton | Putnam | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,325Lowest |
8,189 |
9,292Highest |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.6 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%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% |
2.4%±1.3 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±$14k 20% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,200±$23k 30% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,009±$358Highest 42% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,477 44% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,703 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.7%±25.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 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% |
3.2% 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% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Putnam School District | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | Putnam High School | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
9.5Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.