Compare towns
Milford vs Upton vs Bellingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Bellingham has the most affordable homes ($451k median).
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 | Milford | Upton | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,731Highest |
8,189Lowest |
17,410 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.5±1.5 4% below MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.1%±3.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Milford and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,310±$5kLowest 10% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$125,307±$10k 21% above MA |
| Upton and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $464,700±$12k 17% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$133Highest 7% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,836±$196 4% above MA |
| Milford and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,664 5% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,030Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±8.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Bellingham and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
35 minLowest 22% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 13%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #213 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Bellingham |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.