Compare towns
Bellingham vs Putnam vs Norton
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 kids (22.1% under 18).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Norton has the most expensive homes ($501k 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 | Norton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,410 |
9,292Lowest |
19,240Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.6±1.2 about the U.S. average |
| Putnam and Norton 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%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellingham and Putnam 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% |
17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
12.9%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,307±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$124,535±$11k 54% above U.S. |
| Bellingham and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,700±$13k 35% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$501,400±$27kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$196 30% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,911±$375Highest 35% 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,929Highest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.6%±8.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bellingham and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norton 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #173 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bellingham | Putnam School District | Norton |
| High school in town | Bellingham High School | Putnam High School | Norton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
9.5Lowest |
10.9 |
| 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.