Compare towns
Bellingham vs Worcester vs Norton
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 kids (22.1% under 18).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester | Norton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,410Lowest |
207,055Highest |
19,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.5 4% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
39.6±1.2Highest about the MA average |
| Norton and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Bellingham and Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Norton 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Worcester and Norton 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 |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$124,535±$11k 20% above MA |
| 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 20% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$501,400±$27kHighest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$196 4% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA |
| 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 16% below MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$5,929Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Bellingham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #173 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bellingham | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Norton |
| High school in town | Bellingham High School | South High Community | Norton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
14.6Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| 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.