Compare towns
Mendon vs Marion 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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Marion | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,325 |
5,310Lowest |
17,410Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest 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% |
27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.7% MA: 47.3% |
40.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Marion 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±$33k 27% above MA |
$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
$125,307±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
| Marion 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±$37k 10% above MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA |
| Marion and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,836±$196 4% above MA |
| Mendon and Bellingham 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 |
$5,766 4% below MA |
$5,030Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±16.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Marion 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 | #141 of 282 in MA | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Marion | Bellingham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
| 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.