Compare towns
Mendon vs Maynard vs Lancaster 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 kids (22.8% under 18).
Maynard has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Bellingham has the most affordable homes ($431k 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 | Maynard | Lancaster | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,325 |
10,712Highest |
8,606 |
5,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
44±7.6 10% above MA |
| Maynard 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Lancaster 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% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.9% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Maynard 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 |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$96,763±$14kLowest 7% below MA |
| 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 10% above MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$431,200±$23kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,009±$358 14% above MA |
| Lancaster and Bellingham 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 |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$4,477Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 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% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
1.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Maynard | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Maynard High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.