Compare towns
Bellingham vs Central Falls vs Abington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Abington has the most expensive homes ($540k 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 | Central Falls | Abington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,410 |
22,701Highest |
17,053Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.5 about the U.S. average |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
39.1±1.8Highest about the U.S. average |
| Abington and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Abington 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% |
13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bellingham and Abington 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% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Abington and Central Falls 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 55% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$125,400±$12kHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Abington 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 35% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$539,600±$34kHighest 62% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,724±$250 22% above U.S. |
| Bellingham and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,030 61% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$7,045Highest 126% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bellingham and Abington 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 | #38 of 38 in RI | #143 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bellingham | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Abington |
| High school in town | Bellingham High School | Central Falls Sr High | Abington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
14.6Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.