Compare towns
Mendon vs Spencer vs Sutton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Spencer | Sutton | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,325Lowest |
12,008 |
9,452 |
17,410Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
| Spencer and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.1%±3.4 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Sutton 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% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Spencer 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 |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$125,307±$10k 21% above MA |
| Sutton 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±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$450,700±$13k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,836±$196 4% above MA |
| 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 20% above MA |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$5,030 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Spencer-E Brookfield | Sutton | Bellingham |
| High school in town | None in town | David Prouty High | Sutton High School | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
12.6Highest |
12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.