Compare towns

Bellingham vs Norton vs Ogunquit vs Abington

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 affordable homes ($451k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Abington has the most renters (27.3% rent).

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.

MeasureBellinghamNortonOgunquitAbington
People
Population
17,410
19,240Highest
1,379Lowest
17,053
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.2±1.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
39.6±1.2
about the U.S. average
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
39.1±1.8
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
22.1%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Abington and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.9%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
12.9%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$125,307±$10k
55% above U.S.
$124,535±$11k
54% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kLowest
42% above U.S.
$125,400±$12kHighest
55% above U.S.
Abington 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.
$501,400±$27k
51% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$539,600±$34k
62% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,836±$196
30% above U.S.
$1,911±$375Highest
35% above U.S.
—
$1,724±$250Lowest
22% above 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.
$5,929
90% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$7,045Highest
126% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.8%±16.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.6%±8.9
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.7%±11
U.S.: 51.1%
Bellingham and Abington 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%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1970Lowest
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
33 min
23% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
33 min
26% above U.S.
Work from home
18.3%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.2
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #232 of 282 in MA #173 of 282 in MA — #143 of 282 in MA
School district Bellingham Norton — Abington
High school in town Bellingham High School Norton High — Abington High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.4Highest
10.9Lowest
—
11.3
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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.