Compare towns
Bellingham vs Harvard 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).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Harvard | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,410Highest |
6,927Lowest |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
43.2±1.7 8% above MA |
| Harvard 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% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest 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% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Blackstone and Harvard 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Harvard 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 |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,700±$13k 20% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$404,400±$34kLowest 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA |
| Bellingham and Harvard 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,703 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±16.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #232 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bellingham | Harvard | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Bellingham High School | The Bromfield High School | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
11.0Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.