Compare towns
Blackstone vs Dedham vs Bellingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Bellingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
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 | Blackstone | Dedham | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,255Lowest |
25,237Highest |
17,410 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
| Dedham and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest 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+ | 18.5%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$125,307±$10k 21% above MA |
| Dedham and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,400±$34kLowest 28% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$450,700±$13k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,836±$196 4% above MA |
| Dedham and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703 5% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,030Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±16.6 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 | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham 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 | #207 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Dedham | Bellingham |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | Dedham High | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
12.4 |
| 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.