Compare towns
Blackstone vs Everett vs Bellingham vs Barre
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 shortest commute (34 min average).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Bellingham has the highest household income ($125k).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k 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 | Blackstone | Everett | Bellingham | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,255 |
50,045Highest |
17,410 |
5,572Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7 8% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
38.2±1.5 4% below MA |
43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
| Barre 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% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Barre 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,191±$21k 9% below MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$125,307±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
| Bellingham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,400±$34k 28% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$450,700±$13k 20% below MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85 33% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,836±$196 4% above MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
| Everett and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703Highest 5% below MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$5,030 16% below MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 16% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 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 | #207 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #232 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Everett | Bellingham | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | Everett High | Bellingham High School | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.4 |
12.9 |
| 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.