Compare towns
Bellingham vs Springfield vs Worcester vs Uxbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellingham has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Uxbridge has the oldest population (median age 41.7).
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 | Springfield | Worcester | Uxbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,410 |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
14,473Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.5 4% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
41.7±2.8Highest 4% above MA |
| Uxbridge and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.4 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield 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 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Uxbridge 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,307±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$124,725±$7k 20% above MA |
| Bellingham and Uxbridge 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$441,100±$25k 22% below MA |
| Bellingham and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,555±$265 12% below MA |
| Bellingham and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,030 16% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$5,836Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±5.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Bellingham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
15.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Bellingham and Uxbridge 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #183 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bellingham | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Uxbridge |
| High school in town | Bellingham High School | Springfield Central High | South High Community | Uxbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
12.2 |
14.6Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.