Compare towns
Bellingham vs Ogunquit vs Mendon vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellingham has the most renters (31.2% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Mendon has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bellingham | Ogunquit | Mendon | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,325 |
1,379Lowest |
6,325 |
6,976Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,763±$14kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,200±$23k 30% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37k 85% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,009±$358Highest 42% above U.S. |
— | $1,840±$196 30% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Bellingham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,477 44% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,213Highest 131% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.7%±25.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #232 of 282 in MA | — | #210 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Mendon-Upton | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.