Compare towns
Bellingham vs Dunstable vs Bellingham
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).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Bellingham has the most renters (31.2% rent).
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 | Dunstable | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,410Highest |
3,408Lowest |
5,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
44±7.6Highest 10% above MA |
| Bellingham and Dunstable 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% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable 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% |
15%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bellingham and Dunstable 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% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable 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 |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$96,763±$14kLowest 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,700±$13k 20% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$431,200±$23kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$196 4% above MA |
$1,325±$637Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,009±$358Highest 14% above MA |
| Bellingham and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,030 16% below MA |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$4,477Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
74.7%±25.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Bellingham and Bellingham 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% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
1.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 minLowest 18% above MA |
34 minLowest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
18%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dunstable 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bellingham | Groton-Dunstable | — |
| High school in town | Bellingham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
— | — |
| 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.