What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bellingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).

Hopedale has the oldest population (median age 44.4).

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	Hopedale
People
Population	17,410Highest	6,027Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA	44.4±5.2Highest 11% above MA
	Hopedale 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 MA: 19.4%	22.4%±6.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hopedale 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%	21.9%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hopedale 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	$115,722±$19kLowest 11% above MA
	Bellingham and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA	$466,100±$28kHighest 17% below MA
	Hopedale and Bellingham 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	$1,788±$223Lowest about the MA average
	Bellingham and Hopedale 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	$6,868Highest 15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.8%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8%	46.9%±30.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Bellingham and Hopedale 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%	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	31 minLowest 6% above MA
Work from home	18.3%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%	13.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Bellingham and Hopedale 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	#125 of 282 in MA
School district	Bellingham	Hopedale
High school in town	Bellingham High School	Hopedale Jr Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Highest	10.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.