What stands out worked out from the figures below

Medway has the highest household income ($174k).

Bellingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).

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.

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

Measure	Medway	Bellingham
People
Population	13,436Lowest	17,410Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.7±2.3Highest about the MA average	38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA
	Medway and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%	22.1%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Medway and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%	14.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Medway and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	40.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%	3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Medway and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$173,750±$18kHighest 67% above MA	$125,307±$10kLowest 21% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$617,300±$21kHighest 10% above MA	$450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,575±$205Lowest 11% below MA	$1,836±$196Highest 4% above MA
	Bellingham and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,730Highest 46% above MA	$5,030Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.3%±21.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	62.8%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Bellingham and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.3%Lowest MA: 10%	5.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 4% above MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	20.7%±3.5Highest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Medway 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	#40 of 282 in MA	#232 of 282 in MA
School district	Medway	Bellingham
High school in town	Medway High	Bellingham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.8Highest	12.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.