Compare towns
Mendon vs Boylston vs Bellingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the most homeowners (86.9%).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Bellingham has the most affordable homes ($451k 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.
| Measure | Mendon | Boylston | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,325 |
4,948Lowest |
17,410Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
| Boylston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.1%±3.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.9% MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
$125,307±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
| Boylston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$578,600±$47k about the MA average |
$450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA |
| Mendon and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
$1,836±$196Lowest 4% above MA |
| Boylston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,213 20% above MA |
$7,266Highest 21% above MA |
$5,030Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.2% MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Boylston 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Berlin-Boylston | Bellingham |
| High school in town | None in town | Tahanto Regional High | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.