Compare towns
Mendon vs Ossipee vs Wolfeboro 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%).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Bellingham has the youngest population (median age 38.2).
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 | Ossipee | Wolfeboro | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,325 |
4,521Lowest |
6,571 |
17,410Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
38.2±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest 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%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Ossipee 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Bellingham 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 64% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$125,307±$10k 55% above U.S. |
| 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 85% above U.S. |
$325,500±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
$450,700±$13k 35% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,601±$245 13% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,836±$196 30% above U.S. |
| 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 131% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$5,030 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.8%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 min 27% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Bellingham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.