Compare towns
Mendon vs Rye 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%).
Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).
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 | Rye | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,325 |
5,611Lowest |
17,410Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
38.2±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest 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±$33k 64% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$125,307±$10kLowest 55% above U.S. |
| Rye 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±$37k 85% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$450,700±$13kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Lowest 26% above 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 | $7,213 131% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$5,030Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Rye 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.