Compare towns
Bellingham vs Boylston vs Blackstone
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).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k 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 | Boylston | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,410Highest |
4,948Lowest |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
43.2±1.7 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4 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% |
22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Boylston and Blackstone 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% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Boylston and Bellingham 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 |
$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
$94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA |
| Boylston and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,700±$13k 20% below MA |
$578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average |
$404,400±$34kLowest 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$196 4% above MA |
$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
$1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA |
| Boylston 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 |
$7,266Highest 21% above MA |
$5,703 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7Lowest 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% MA: 62.5% |
79.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bellingham | Berlin-Boylston | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Bellingham High School | Tahanto Regional High | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
11.1Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| 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.