Compare towns
Mendon vs Plainfield 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%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Bellingham has the most renters (31.2% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,325Highest |
2,522Lowest |
5,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44±7.6 13% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$96,763±$14kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Plainfield 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. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$431,200±$23kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196 30% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,009±$358Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Bellingham 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,477Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.7%±25.4 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.