Compare towns
Bellingham vs Oakham vs Bellingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Bellingham has the most renters (31.2% 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.
| Measure | Bellingham | Oakham | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,410Highest |
1,639Lowest |
5,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-1.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
44±7.6 10% above MA |
| Oakham and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Bellingham 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 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.1% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham 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±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$96,763±$14kLowest 7% below MA |
| Bellingham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,700±$13kHighest 20% below MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
$431,200±$23k 23% below MA |
| Bellingham and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$196 4% above MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$2,009±$358Highest 14% above MA |
| Bellingham and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,030Highest 16% below MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,477 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
74.7%±25.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Bellingham 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 MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
34 minLowest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Bellingham 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 | — | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bellingham | Quabbin | — |
| 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 |
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.