Is Bellingham all bad in terms of crime?

Submitted by codeQueen t3_zxsrpo in massachusetts

I grew up in southcoast MA, recently moved to Vermont, and am moving back to MA soon.

I'm looking in the Norfolk county area, which I don't know super well, so I'm doing lots of research.

Looking at this crime map https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ma/crime.amp the area looks okay aside from Bellingham.

For those of you familiar with Bellingham, would you categorize the entire city as unsafe?

For example, growing up in the southcoast area, the south end of New Bedford is horrible but the north end is quite nice – but the entire city is dark on this map. I'm wondering if Bellingham is similar.

Just trying to figure out where to stay away from!

Thanks!

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biddily t1_j224of5 wrote

Lol. That whole area of towns is boring and safe. The only crime that gets pinged is where shopping centers are and the thefts that happen there. The statistics of amount of people living in the smaller town vs the amount of things that happen at the bigger shopping centers can throw off the crime map.

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Visible_Inevitable41 t1_j223tji wrote

Middle and North Bellingham are okay/safe. I live in middle Bellingham. South Bellingham has issues being next to woonsocket RI. For OP, Woonsocket is like any small former mill city with it's issues.

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bobmcrobber t1_j26lgvs wrote

Most of South Bellingham (North of Pulaski Blvd and east of 126) is fine. Down near Stop&Shop is a bit sketchy

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Away-Reading t1_j227633 wrote

Don’t know where that site is getting it’s statistics from. In terms of crime, pretty much the whole town is on par with the nicest parts of New Bedford.

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Tyshalle42 t1_j22hnc5 wrote

Grew up in the area, moved away and came back. There are no parts of Bellingham you need to avoid. As people mentioned it’s the town with a Walmart, movie theatre and several other large chains, those have petty crime but nothing you’d need to worry about.

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Visible_Inevitable41 t1_j224z7f wrote

I would use some other sources as well. As other sources consider Bellingham safe and has decent schools.

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bobmcrobber t1_j26lnsl wrote

The elementary schools are good, but the high school is mediocre. However, the good thing is that Medway and Holliston offer school choice for HS, both of which have better high schools than Bellingham.

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Proof-Variation7005 t1_j225lxf wrote

This is probably heavily skewered by teenagers dining and dashing at Applebees, Chilis, and pIzzeria Uno. The local police have been powerless to stop it.

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NooStringsAttached t1_j225ngh wrote

I had family in Franklin and apparently the joke even with the teachers and stuff was that Bellingham what’s shit. I thought it was there. But mostly negative about the schools not the city as a whole.

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bobmcrobber t1_j26ltfq wrote

Belllingham's school athletics are a meme in the Tri-Valley League, other than football and baseball/softball

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Initial_Witness8074 t1_j23ztof wrote

I've friends who live in Bellingham. They have never had an issue. I've been there multiple times and have always found it safe.

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wishforagreatmistake t1_j25138g wrote

It's a townie town. Nothing really happens there for better or for worse.

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bobmcrobber t1_j26mb2y wrote

Overall, Bellingham is fine. There are nice houses in South Bellingham, as well as apartments in Central Bellingham. The commuter rail is quite close by in Franklin. Also, there's a shit ton of shops, especially near Exits 18 (46) and 17 (43, which is in Franklin). South Bellingham has the added bonus of having easier access to Worcester and Providence via MA 146, and Attleboro via 122, 114, 120, or 295.

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bobmcrobber t1_j26mggj wrote

There are also 4 walmarts within 25 minutes of the town center, those being the one in North Bellingham (duh), N. Smithfield, RI, Northbridge, and N. Attleboro

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