What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bellingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).

Blackstone has the oldest 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bellingham	Blackstone
People
Population	17,410Highest	9,255Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA	43.2±1.7Highest 8% above MA
Kids under 18	22.1%±3.4Highest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Bellingham and Blackstone 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%	18.5%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Blackstone and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	31.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Bellingham and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,307±$10kHighest 21% above MA	$94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA
	Bellingham and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$450,700±$13kHighest 20% below MA	$404,400±$34kLowest 28% below MA
	Bellingham and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$196Highest 4% above MA	$1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,030Lowest 16% below MA	$5,703Highest 5% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.8%±16.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Blackstone and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest MA: 10%	8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	34 minLowest 16% above MA
Work from home	18.3%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%	17.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	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	#207 of 282 in MA
School district	Bellingham	Blackstone-Millville
High school in town	Bellingham High School	Blackstone Millville RHS
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Lowest	13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.