What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hopedale has the oldest population (median age 44.4).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hopedale	Bellingham
People
Population	6,027Lowest	17,410Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.4±5.2Highest 11% above MA	38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA
	Hopedale and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±6.6Highest MA: 19.4%	22.1%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hopedale and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%	14.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	40.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%	3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hopedale and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,722±$19kLowest 11% above MA	$125,307±$10kHighest 21% above MA
	Bellingham and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$466,100±$28kHighest 17% below MA	$450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA
	Hopedale and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,788±$223Lowest about the MA average	$1,836±$196Highest 4% above MA
	Bellingham and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,868Highest 15% above MA	$5,030Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±30.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	62.8%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Bellingham and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	5.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 6% above MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	13.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Bellingham and Hopedale 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	#125 of 282 in MA	#232 of 282 in MA
School district	Hopedale	Bellingham
High school in town	Hopedale Jr Sr High	Bellingham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2Lowest	12.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.