Compare towns
Bellingham vs Townsend vs Blackstone
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%).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
Blackstone has the most renters (26.8% 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 | Townsend | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,410Highest |
9,100Lowest |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
43.2±1.7Highest 8% above MA |
| Blackstone and Townsend 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% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Blackstone and Townsend 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% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
31.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA |
| Bellingham and Townsend 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 |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$404,400±$34kLowest 28% below MA |
| Bellingham and Townsend 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 |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA |
| Bellingham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,030Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$5,703 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bellingham | North Middlesex | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Bellingham High School | North Middlesex Regional | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Lowest |
13.1 |
13.6Highest |
| 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.