Compare towns
Bellingham vs Acton vs Uxbridge
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 38.2).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Uxbridge has the most affordable homes ($441k 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 | Acton | Uxbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,410 |
24,155Highest |
14,473Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
41.7±2.8 4% above MA |
| Acton and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Acton and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.1% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,307±$10k 21% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$124,725±$7kLowest 20% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,700±$13k 20% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$441,100±$25kLowest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$196 4% above MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,555±$265Lowest 12% below MA |
| Acton and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,030Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,836 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±5.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Bellingham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
35 minLowest 19% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #232 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #183 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bellingham | Acton-Boxborough | Uxbridge |
| High school in town | Bellingham High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Uxbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
13.5Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.