Compare towns
Mendon vs Lowell 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 expensive homes ($616k median).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Bellingham has the most people working from home (18%).
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 | Lowell | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,325 |
118,368Highest |
5,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
44±7.6 10% above MA |
| Mendon and Bellingham 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% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lowell and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
$96,763±$14k 7% below MA |
| Mendon and Bellingham 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 |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$431,200±$23k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
$2,009±$358Highest 14% above MA |
| Bellingham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
$4,477Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
74.7%±25.4 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% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Lowell | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Lowell High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.