Bellingham, MA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Bellingham

Bellingham is a single-town district serving PK through 12 in Norfolk County, wrapping around a single community about an hour southwest of Boston. The district enrolled roughly two thousand students across a half-dozen schools that include an early childhood center, two elementary buildings, a memorial school for the middle grades, a high school, and Keough Memorial Academy, an alternative program. The student body skews heavily white, with a Hispanic population that represents the largest non-white group and smaller shares of Asian, Black, and multiracial students. Data on economic disadvantage, special education, and English learner status was not available, so it is not possible to assess the district's support load from those angles.

State testing results tell a clear story. On the NextGen MCAS for grades 3 through 8, proficiency rates in both math and English language arts landed well below the midpoint among Norfolk County's districts. The same is true for science, where just over a third of test takers reached proficiency. On the grade 8 social studies assessment, proficiency fell lower still. The district's overall proficiency index, which averages all tested subjects and grades, sits in the bottom quartile of the county's districts. A parent looking at these numbers should know that the district has room to grow academically and may want to discuss with the school what supports are in place for students who are not yet meeting grade-level benchmarks.

The chronic absenteeism rate also falls in the bottom quartile among county districts, meaning a higher share of students are missing substantial school time. This can affect classroom pacing and individual progress, and it is a soft spot the district may be working to address. Graduation rate data was not available in the provided record.

On the spending side, per-pupil current expenditures placed this district in the upper half of Norfolk County's districts, in the middle range. That suggests the district allocates resources at a level comparable to many of its neighbors, even as academic outcomes trail the county median.

The housing market in Bellingham is competitive and expensive, reflecting broader Norfolk County trends. Home values and rents have risen modestly year over year. The county market shows a median listing price well above the national benchmark, and the number of pending listings has jumped sharply, indicating high demand. For a family moving into the area, the cost of entry is significant, and the affordability gap between renting and owning is narrow.

The district itself did not surface any recent parent-relevant changes in the available research. That means the picture is fairly steady; there were no major boundary shifts, program launches, or leadership transitions that would alter a family's basic understanding of what Bellingham offers. The schools are all listed as open and appear to be operating under the district's existing configuration.

Bellingham serves a single community with an expensive housing market and a student population that is largely white. Its academic proficiency levels are below the county average across the tested grade span, and chronic absenteeism is a notable concern. Spending per pupil is on par with or above many nearby districts, but that investment has not yet moved the academic needle into the middle of the pack. For a family weighing this district, the central question is whether the academic trajectory and peer environment fit their child's needs and whether they can navigate the local housing costs to get in the door.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

1,990

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 13%

Black 2%

White 78%

Asian 3%

Two+ 3%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

28%

52%

Gr 4

19%

37%

Gr 5

16%

38%

Gr 6

22%

33%

Gr 7

19%

Gr 8

31%

Gr 38

16%

35%

Math

Gr 3

33%

52%

Gr 4

19%

51%

Gr 5

10%

43%

Gr 6

23%

45%

Gr 7

15%

42%

Gr 8

22%

Gr 38

17%

42%

Science

Gr 5

29%

51%

Gr 8

15%

38%

Gr 38

23%

44%

Social studies

Gr 8

28%

Schools in this District

6 schools are officially reported under this district.

Bellingham High School

Stall Brook

Joseph F DiPietro Elementary School

Bellingham Early Childhood Center

Bellingham Memorial School

Keough Memorial Academy

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

33%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

28%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

36%

Grades 3-8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

21%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$541,962

Year-over-year change+0.7%

vs. state typical0.82x

vs. national typical1.47x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
02019	Bellingham	$542K	+0.7%	100.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,537/mo

Year-over-year change+1.1%

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
02019	Bellingham	$2,537	+1.1%	100.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,735/mo

Home price / national median income6.5x

Annual rent / national median income36.4%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$197/mo

Market Activity: Norfolk County

Median listing price$880,000

Median listing price YoY-9.3%

Median price per sq ft$479

Median days on market24.5 days

Median days on market YoY+16.7%

Active listings1,014

Active listings YoY+2.4%

New listings1,088

New listings YoY+15.7%

Pending listings1,258

Pending listings YoY+482.4%

Hotness: median listing price$899,675

Hotness: median listing price YoY-8.8%

Supply score98.1

Supply score YoY-1.2%

Demand score81.2

Demand score YoY-2.2%

Median listing price (12 months)

Median price per sq ft (12 months)

Median days on market (12 months)

Active listings (12 months)

New listings (12 months)

Pending listings (12 months)

Hotness: median listing price (12 months)

Supply score (12 months)

Demand score (12 months)

Comparison

State typical home value$661,755 (+1.5% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.