Compare towns
Bellingham vs Putnam vs Blackstone
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 highest household income ($125k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Putnam | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,410Highest |
9,292 |
9,255Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Bellingham and Blackstone 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% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam 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 55% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
| Bellingham and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,700±$13kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
| Bellingham and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,030 61% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bellingham and Blackstone 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bellingham | Putnam School District | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Bellingham High School | Putnam High School | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
9.5Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| 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.