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Town comparison · Massachusetts

Franklin vs Bellingham

Greater Boston · MetroWest
Even split (3–3) on headline livability metrics

On the six headline livability metrics, Franklin and Bellingham split the table evenly. This is a real tradeoff, not a ranking. Median homes in Bellingham run roughly $165k cheaper than in Franklin, about 23% less. Schools tilt clearly toward Franklin (90 vs. 65).

The two towns at a glance

Franklin

Greater Boston · pop. 33,261
One of the most popular commuter towns south of 495, Franklin combines A-rated schools, commuter rail to both South Station and Providence, and a growing downtown restaurant scene. It is the largest and most commercially complete town in this part of Norfolk County.
56
Default fit score
equal weights, 0–100
Full Franklin profile →

Bellingham

MetroWest · pop. 16,945
Bellingham is the value play between Franklin and Milford: good highway access, lower home prices than its neighbors, and a school district that is improving but still rates C+ on Niche. Route 126 commercial activity keeps local retail alive.
51
Default fit score
equal weights, 0–100
Full Bellingham profile →

Head-to-head: every metric

Franklin Bellingham
Headline
Livability index 56 ✦ 49
Economics
Median home $708k ✦ $542k
Household income $146k ✦ $121k
Price ÷ income 4.9× ✦ 4.5×
Tax burden 62 65 ✦
Schools & Safety
Schools 90 ✦ 65
Safety 82 ✦ 75
Getting around
Commute to Boston 50 min 52 min ✦
Walkability 22 28 ✦
Transit 28 ✦ 8
Biking 28 30 ✦
Lifestyle
Dining 52 ✦ 45
Nightlife 32 ✦ 30
Arts & culture 38 ✦ 22
Green space 36 ✦ 30
Community
Diversity 28 28
Climate 71 ✦ 70
5-yr trend 70 ✦ 60

Clay = wins this metric. Direction matters: lower median home and shorter commute are better; everything else, higher is better.

Compare on your terms

These winners are based on a neutral, equal weighting of every metric. Your priorities are not neutral. Open Franklin vs Bellingham in the interactive atlas to tune schools, walkability, affordability, commute, and seven more dimensions, and watch the verdict change.

Re-weight Franklin vs Bellingham About Gary Browse all 194 towns

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About this comparison

Bay State Atlas ranks 194 Massachusetts towns using public data (Census ACS, MA DESE schools, Walk Score, MA Department of Revenue tax data, and the FBI UCR safety index) normalized to 0–100. Every weight is editable. This page is a static, indexable snapshot. The live tool is faster and lets you customize what counts.