What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethany has the most affordable homes ($418k median).

Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bethany	Mendon
People
Population	5,288Lowest	6,325Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+6.7% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.5±2.9Lowest 9% above U.S.	44.1±4.4Highest 13% above U.S.
	Mendon and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Mendon and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bethany and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	46.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4%	6.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$166,236±$20kHighest 106% above U.S.	$132,256±$33kLowest 64% above U.S.
	Bethany and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$418,000±$42kLowest 26% above U.S.	$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,840±$196 30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,313Highest 167% above U.S.	$7,213Lowest 131% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mendon and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	12%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mendon and Bethany 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	#30 of 149 in CT	#210 of 282 in MA
School district	Bethany School District · Regional School District 05	Mendon-Upton
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.