Compare towns
Bellingham vs Upton vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Upton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,410Highest |
8,189Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.2±1.5 about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Plainfield 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Upton and Bellingham 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,030 61% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bellingham and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.3%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bellingham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Bellingham High School | Blackstone Valley | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
11.2 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.