Compare towns
Blackstone vs Middletown vs Bellingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k median).
Middletown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Bellingham has the highest household income ($125k).
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 | Middletown | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,255Lowest |
16,832 |
17,410Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
43.8±2Highest 13% above U.S. |
38.2±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Middletown 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 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middletown 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,191±$21kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$101,948±$6k 26% above U.S. |
$125,307±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,400±$34kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$563,300±$46kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$450,700±$13k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,990±$170Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,836±$196 30% above U.S. |
| Middletown and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703 83% above U.S. |
$6,153Highest 97% above U.S. |
$5,030Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.8%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #23 of 38 in RI | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Middletown | Bellingham |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | Middletown High School | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
10.7Lowest |
12.4 |
| 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.