Compare towns

Bellingham vs Lancaster vs Ogunquit

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 most kids (22.1% under 18).
Lancaster has the highest household income ($135k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).

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.

MeasureBellinghamLancasterOgunquit
People
Population
17,410Highest
8,606
1,379Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.2±1.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
Kids under 18
22.1%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Bellingham and Lancaster 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%
19.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Ogunquit 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
55% above U.S.
$134,833±$27kHighest
67% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kLowest
42% above U.S.
Lancaster and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$450,700±$13kLowest
35% above U.S.
$519,100±$60k
56% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,836±$196Lowest
30% above U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
—
Lancaster 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.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.8%±16.6
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster 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
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
18.3%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Lancaster 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 #145 of 282 in MA —
School district Bellingham Nashoba —
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

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.