Compare towns

Bellingham vs Mendon vs Woonsocket

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 people working from home (18.3%).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).

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.

MeasureBellinghamMendonWoonsocket
People
Population
17,410
6,325Lowest
43,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.2±1.5
about the U.S. average
44.1±4.4Highest
13% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
Mendon and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.1%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±6.2
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.9%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bellingham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
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%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Mendon and Woonsocket 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.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below 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.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,836±$196
30% above U.S.
$1,840±$196Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% 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
$5,030
61% above U.S.
$7,213Highest
131% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% 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%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
18.3%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±5.7
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bellingham and Mendon 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 #37 of 38 in RI
School district Bellingham Mendon-Upton RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town Bellingham High School None in town Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.4Lowest
—
15.2Highest
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.