Town · Massachusetts
Bellingham, Massachusetts
Bellingham, town, in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Bellingham had 18,032 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 6.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 16,945 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 17,410 (±19). GEOID 2502104930.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
18,032
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 16,945 · ACS 2020-2024: 17,410 ±19
Median household income
$125,307
±$10,415 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960
Median home value
$450,700
±$12,976 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100
Median gross rent
$1,836
±$196 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762
Where is Bellingham and what county is it in?
Bellingham is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. It covers 18.3 square miles of land, 924 residents per square mile in 2020.
One place lies inside Bellingham: Bellingham (CDP, 4,782 in 2020).
Bellingham is in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 7 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Bellingham, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 18,032 people lived in Bellingham on July 1, 2025, up 6.4% since 2020, faster than Massachusetts (+1.7%). The 2020 Census counted 16,945 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 17,410 (±19).
| Measure | Bellingham | Norfolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 17,410±19 | 730,082 | +302 |
| Households | 6,346±377 | 283,368 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.74±0.16 | 2.51 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 6,691±429 | 295,227 | no clear change |
Bellingham's population since 2000
From 15,314 in 2000 to 18,032 in 2025: up 17.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Bellingham as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Bellingham?
The median resident of Bellingham is 38.2 years old; 22.1% are under 18 and 14.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 82.2%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 9.1%. 6.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Bellingham | Norfolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2±1.5 | 40.9 | −2.5 |
| Under 18 years | 22.1%±2.9 pts | 20.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.9%±2.0 pts | 17.8% | – |
| Male | 49.1%±2.2 pts | 48.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.0%±2.4 pts | 5.8% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 82.2%±6.3 pts | 68.7% | −9.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.5 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.1%±0.6 pts | 12.4% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 9.1%±6.1 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.1%±1.0 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 6.1%±2.5 pts | 19.3% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 10.3%±3.1 pts | 23.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.9%±1.3 pts | 3.8% | – |
| With a disability | 10.7%±2.2 pts | 9.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.6%±1.7 pts | 1.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.7%±1.6 pts | 94.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 40.1%±4.6 pts | 58.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 14.1%±3.2 pts | 28.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 95.3%±2.0 pts | 89.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.4%±0.4 pts | 2.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Bellingham earn?
Half of Bellingham's 6,346 households earn less than $125,307 a year (±$10,415), against $130,739 in Norfolk County and $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 it was $124,887 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 5.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Bellingham | Norfolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $125,307±$10,415 | $130,739 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $143,262±$10,577 | $183,022 | – |
| Per capita income | $52,727±$3,345 | $71,758 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 5.7%±2.3 pts | 6.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.7%±4.6 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 10.8%±4.0 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.6%±1.3 pts | 96.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 97.4%±1.2 pts | 94.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Bellingham?
Owners occupy 78.9% of Bellingham's occupied homes and renters 21.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $450,700 by its owner (±$12,976). The median renter pays $1,836 a month including utilities, and 56.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Bellingham | Norfolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $450,700±$12,976 | $683,900 | +$61,555 |
| Median gross rent | $1,836±$196 | $2,149 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 56.9%±13.0 pts | 41.1% | +23.8 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,496±$123 | $3,171 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 78.9%±4.7 pts | 68.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 21.1%±4.7 pts | 31.3% | – |
| Housing units | 6,691±429 | 295,227 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.4%±1.5 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±3.0 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 73.9%±4.8 pts | 56.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.8%±1.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.9%±0.6 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 8.5%±3.8 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 12.0%±3.7 pts | 26.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 1.5%±1.1 pts | 9.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Bellingham building?
Builders took permits for 34 new housing units in Bellingham in 2025 (34 in single-family houses), 1.9 per 1,000 residents against 1.7 across Massachusetts.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Bellingham work and get to work?
72.1% of Bellingham's workers drive alone and 18.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 36.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.4%.
| Measure | Bellingham | Norfolk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 72.9%±2.9 pts | 69.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.4%±2.1 pts | 4.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 72.1%±3.6 pts | 57.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.6%±2.1 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.6%±0.5 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Walked | 0.6%±0.6 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 18.3%±3.0 pts | 22.8% | +14.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 36.1 min±3.0 | 32.5 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Bellingham?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Bellingham (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $101,921 (Tract 4431.06) to $138,019 (Tract 4431.03).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 4431.06Norfolk County | 6,306 | $101,921 |
| Tract 4431.04Norfolk County | 4,778 | $137,917 |
| Tract 4431.03Norfolk County | 4,086 | $138,019 |
| Tract 4431.05Norfolk County | 2,240 | $130,208 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Bellingham) · Census block assignment files
How does Bellingham compare with other places in Massachusetts?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Bellingham is the 671st-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 41st-most populous of 266 in Massachusetts.
Bellingham ranks 155th of 453 places in Massachusetts with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 41st | 266 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 18th | 292 |
| Residents per square mile | 199th | 461 |
| Median household income | 155th | 453 |
| Per capita income | 276th | 460 |
| Median home value | 291st | 459 |
| Median gross rent | 127th | 410 |
| Poverty rate | 204th | 338 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 298th | 459 |
| Median age | 418th | 461 |
| Owner-occupied share | 242nd | 460 |
| Work from home | 209th | 429 |
| Travel time to work | 50th | 459 |
Bellingham's figures with every place in Massachusetts (CSV)
Every place in Massachusetts, sortable · Compare Bellingham with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Bellingham?
14 of the 57 figures for Bellingham on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Bellingham are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.