Compare towns
Blackstone vs Oakham 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 renters (26.8% rent).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Oakham | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,255 |
1,639Lowest |
17,410Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7 8% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest 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% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham 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% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$125,307±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
| Bellingham and Oakham 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 |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$450,700±$13kHighest 20% below MA |
| Bellingham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85 33% below MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,836±$196Highest 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703Highest 5% below MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$5,030 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest 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% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 16% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±2.7Highest 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 | — | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Quabbin | Bellingham |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | None in town | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 12.4Lowest |
| 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.