Compare towns
Bellingham vs Mendon vs Middlesex
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 youngest population (median age 38.2).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Mendon | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,410Highest |
6,325 |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Middlesex 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. |
$132,256±$33kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,700±$13k 35% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$196 30% above U.S. |
$1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,030Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$7,213Highest 131% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Bellingham 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bellingham | Mendon-Upton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 |
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.