Compare towns
Bellingham vs Hardwick 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Blackstone has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
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 | Hardwick | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,410Highest |
2,684Lowest |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.2±1.7 8% above MA |
| Hardwick and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest 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% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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 21% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$94,191±$21k 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 |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$404,400±$34k 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 |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,189±$85 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,030 16% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$5,703Highest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Lowest 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% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bellingham | Quabbin | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Bellingham High School | None in town | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Lowest |
— | 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.