Compare towns
Bellingham vs Norton vs Ogunquit vs Upton
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%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Norton | Ogunquit | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,410 |
19,240Highest |
1,379Lowest |
8,189 |
| 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% |
+6.1% 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. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
12.9%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton 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. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$196 30% above U.S. |
$1,911±$375Highest 35% above U.S. |
— | $948±$599Lowest 33% 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. |
$5,929 90% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% 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% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bellingham and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer 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 |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #232 of 282 in MA | #173 of 282 in MA | — | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bellingham | Norton | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Bellingham High School | Norton High | — | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
10.9Lowest |
— | 11.2 |
| 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.