Suburban living in Bellingham, Norfolk County
Bellingham is a 300-year-old New England town located on the southwestern fringe of Boston, and the once-manufacturing community has transformed itself into an up-and-coming suburban destination as it continues to reap the rewards of a commercial development plan launched 30 years ago. With proximity to Interstate 495, Bellingham underwent major growth in the 1990s and attracted nearly 1,000,000 square feet of retail and commercial space. Today, residents enjoy lower property taxes, an independent school system, scenic landscapes and outdoor opportunities, as well as proximity to highways and the neighboring town, Franklin. “Bellingham is a small and knit community where everyone knows each other. It’s getting developed and people can find more affordable, nice homes with open space here compared to neighboring towns,” says Michelle Sebio Savje, who is the owner of Sebio Savje Premier Realty with 22 years of real estate experience. "The town also does a fantastic, phenomenal job plowing the roads in winter.”
Single-family homes in Bellingham
Sitting on winding, suburban streets that weave their way through the town, residential homes in Bellingham are a mixture of Cape Cods, cottages, bungalows, ranch styles, Colonial Revivals and raised ranches. While some houses date back to the 1700s and the 1800s, many properties were built in the latter half of the 20th century and usually list between $400,000 and $800,000. Townhouses from the 1980s may go for $350,000, while newer ones start around $450,000 and can fetch as much as $650,000. Yard sizes range from quarter-acre to about 1 acre, and residential cul-de-sacs are common throughout the community.
Outdoor recreation at Arcand Park Beach and Silver Lake
Situated on two separate lakes, Arcand Park Beach and Silver Lake are two of the most popular outdoor destinations in town. Silver Lake has a playground for children, and locals can fish, swim, boat and kayak on the lakes between June and October. Stall Brook Fields and North Field have more athletic facilities for youth and adults to enjoy sports games, and Town Common offers additional play areas. Bellingham also has trail entrances to enter the Southern New England Trunkline Trail, which stretches 22 miles and runs from Douglas State Forest to Franklin State Forest. People can access the trail for biking, hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. “The SNET trail is something a lot of people come around for,” Savje says.
Bellingham Public Schools
Prospective primary schools include Joseph F. DiPietro Elementary School and Stall Brook Elementary School; each rates a B-minus and a C-plus Niche grade, respectively. Students may then continue to Bellingham Memorial School for fourth-grade through seventh-grade, and finish secondary education at Bellingham High School, both of which score a C-plus. Bellingham High offers innovative learning pathways for advanced manufacturing and healthcare, and the school district overall has a student-teacher ratio of 13:1. The Bellingham Public Library also provides after-school programs for students between 4th grade and 7th grade.
Shopping and dining options along Pulaski Road
Stallbrook Marketplace is home to Market Basket and Staples. Walmart sits adjacent to the plaza, and Whole Foods Market is also across the street. Stop & Shop and popular restaurants such as The Beef Barn are situated along Pulaski Road, which is a major thoroughfare in town. Additional well-known eateries include the family-run pizzeria Bellingham Palace and Sol De Mexico, a popular cantina with margaritas and enchiladas. PJ’s Bar and Grill is a crowd-pleaser and has many regulars for trivia nights and sports game broadcasts.
Navigating into Boston and Providence
The town is approximately 45 miles away from Boston and 47 miles from Boston Logan International Airport via Interstate 90. Providence is about a 20-mile commute through Rhode Island State Route 146, and Milford Regional Medical Center is about 5 miles away. In conjunction with the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority, Bellingham offers the Bellingham Commuter Shuttle for residents who need access to the commuter rail train station in nearby Franklin. From Franklin, people can get on the T and head straight to the South Station in Boston.
Community events at the Bellingham Public Library
The Bellingham Public Library organizes weekly children's events for local families, including story times, craft workshops, a math club and movie days. In July, the town also has a weekly Music on the Grass event at Town Common. For weekend outings, people can catch a new release at the local Regal movie theater or head to Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park.
