Compare towns
Bellingham vs Needham vs Hopedale
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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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.
| Measure | Bellingham | Needham | Hopedale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,410 |
32,459Highest |
6,027Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44.4±5.2Highest 11% above MA |
| Hopedale and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±6.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Hopedale 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hopedale and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hopedale and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$115,722±$19kLowest 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$466,100±$28k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$196 4% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,788±$223Lowest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,030Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,868 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±30.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Bellingham and Needham 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #232 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #125 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bellingham | Needham | Hopedale |
| High school in town | Bellingham High School | Needham High | Hopedale Jr Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
11.9 |
10.2Lowest |
| 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.