States › Massachusetts › Bellingham

Is Bellingham, MA expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 25 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$2,21726% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$104,359about $8,697/month · 20% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$431,20030% higher than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 77% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.1 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 34.3 minutes each way.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $88,680 a year. That is $43 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Massachusetts cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Massachusetts. It is number 55 of 123 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Bellingham
$2,217
North Westport
$1,834
The Pinehills
$3,110
Bliss Corner
$1,697
Adams
$1,023
Marshfield
$2,489
Hingham
$1,326

How much do households earn in Bellingham?

Under $25k
10.9%
$25k–50k
17.8%
$50k–100k
32.6%
$100k–150k
21.8%
$150k+
16.5%

Share of households by yearly income. 38.3% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Bellingham

SizeBellinghamU.S. average
1 bedroom$1,888$1,324
2 bedrooms$2,645$1,509

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Bellingham overall?

Everyday prices in Massachusetts overall are 6% above the U.S. average (index 105.8, U.S. = 100).

Housing
128
Goods (food, clothes…)
99
Utilities
152
Other services
103
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Bellingham, so the Massachusetts figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Bellingham

🏛️ Property tax$4,477a year · 1.04% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$161a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Bellingham

Commute to work34.3 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree35.3%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home68.8%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line1.8%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment11.1%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Bellingham?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $775 a month less.

Renting
$2,217
Owning
$2,992

Owning assumes a typical $431,200 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $43,120 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Bellingham, MA?

Renting in Bellingham costs a median of about $2,217 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Massachusetts median is $2,331.

How much do I need to make to live in Bellingham?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $88,680 a year, or $43 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Bellingham cheap or expensive?

Bellingham is rated OK: rent takes 25.5% of the typical household income of $104,359. It ranks 55th cheapest of 123 Massachusetts cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Bellingham?

The median homeowner in Bellingham pays $4,477 a year in property taxes, about 1.04% of the median home value.

Is Bellingham more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Massachusetts are 6% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Bellingham?

The median home value in Bellingham is $431,200, about 4.1 times the typical yearly household income.

5,325 people live in Bellingham. Numbers are typical (middle) values.