Compare towns
Blackstone vs Windsor Locks vs Putnam 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
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Windsor Locks | Putnam | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,255Lowest |
12,579 |
9,292 |
17,410Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
38.2±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest 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%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Putnam 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 17% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$125,307±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Bellingham and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$450,700±$13kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Bellingham and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,836±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$5,030 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bellingham and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Windsor Locks School District | Putnam School District | Bellingham |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | Windsor Locks High School | Putnam High School | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
8.9Lowest |
9.5 |
12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.