What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bellingham has the most people working from home (18.3%).

Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).

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	Central Falls
People
Population	17,410Lowest	22,701Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.2±1.5Highest about the U.S. average	32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S.
Kids under 18	22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Central Falls and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bellingham and Central Falls 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 U.S.: 35.7%	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Central Falls 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±$10kHighest 55% above U.S.	$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$450,700±$13kHighest 35% above U.S.	$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$196Highest 30% above U.S.	$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,030Highest 61% above U.S.	$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.8%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	56.7%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bellingham and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	18.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#232 of 282 in MA	#38 of 38 in RI
School district	Bellingham	Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning
High school in town	Bellingham High School	Central Falls Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Lowest	14.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.