Compare towns
Bellingham vs Killingly vs Norton vs Blackstone
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 youngest population (median age 38.2).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Norton has the most expensive homes ($501k median).
Blackstone has the oldest population (median age 43.2).
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 | Killingly | Norton | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,410 |
17,867 |
19,240Highest |
9,255Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
39.6±1.2 about the U.S. average |
43.2±1.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
12.9%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,307±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$124,535±$11k 54% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
| Bellingham and Norton 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. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$501,400±$27kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$196 30% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,911±$375Highest 35% above U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
| Norton and Bellingham 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. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,929Highest 90% above U.S. |
$5,703 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.6%±8.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norton 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #173 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bellingham | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Norton | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Bellingham High School | Killingly High School | Norton High | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
11.1 |
10.9Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.