Compare towns
Blackstone vs Sturbridge 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).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Bellingham has the youngest population (median age 38.2).
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 | Sturbridge | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,255Lowest |
9,960 |
17,410Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7 8% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
| Sturbridge 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% |
20.7%±3Lowest 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% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge 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 |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$125,307±$10k 21% above MA |
| Sturbridge 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 |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$450,700±$13kHighest 20% below MA |
| Bellingham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,836±$196Highest 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703 5% below MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$5,030Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 16% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Bellingham |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
7.7Lowest |
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.