Compare towns
Mendon vs Hampton vs Lancaster vs Bellingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Hampton | Lancaster | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,325Lowest |
16,426 |
8,606 |
17,410Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
38.2±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±3.4 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+ | 14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Bellingham 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 64% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$125,307±$10k 55% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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 85% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$450,700±$13kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196 30% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,836±$196 30% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,213 131% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,030Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.8%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Nashoba | Bellingham |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
— | 12.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.