Compare towns
Mendon vs Sutton vs Rowley 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%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Rowley | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,325 |
9,452 |
6,251Lowest |
17,410Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% 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 |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
| Rowley 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Lowest 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley 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% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%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% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Rowley 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±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$125,307±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
| Sutton and Rowley 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 |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rowley and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% 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 | $7,213 20% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% 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% |
57.7%±27.3 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% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Sutton | Triton | Bellingham |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
— | 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.