Compare towns
Mendon vs Newfields 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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,325 |
2,023Lowest |
17,410Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
38.2±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest 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%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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 64% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$125,307±$10kLowest 55% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,000±$37k 85% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$450,700±$13kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Mendon 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. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,836±$196Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,030Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.8%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 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 |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #210 of 282 in MA | — | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Newfields School District | 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 |
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.