Compare towns
Mendon vs Sutton vs Acton vs Bellingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Sutton | Acton | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,325Lowest |
9,452 |
24,155Highest |
17,410 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
| Acton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.1%±3.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Acton 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% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Acton 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 |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$125,307±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
| Acton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,836±$196 4% above MA |
| Acton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,213 20% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,030Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 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%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #210 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Sutton | Acton-Boxborough | Bellingham |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
13.5Highest |
12.4Lowest |
| 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.