Compare towns
Mendon vs Needham 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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,325Lowest |
32,459Highest |
17,410 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
| Mendon and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Mendon 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% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$125,307±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,836±$196Lowest 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,213 20% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,030Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #210 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Needham | Bellingham |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| 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.