Compare towns
Bellingham vs Lancaster vs Mendon vs Ogunquit
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 affordable homes ($451k median).
Lancaster has the highest household income ($135k).
Mendon has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Lancaster | Mendon | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,410Highest |
8,606 |
6,325 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest 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+ | 14.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,307±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33k 64% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,700±$13kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37k 85% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$196Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,840±$196 30% above U.S. |
— |
| Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,030 61% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$7,213 131% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.3%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #232 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bellingham | Nashoba | Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | Bellingham High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
— | — | — |
| 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.