Compare towns
Mendon vs Washington 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 the most homeowners (86.9%).
Washington has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Washington | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,325 |
3,676Lowest |
17,410Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
38.2±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Washington and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7Lowest 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% |
26.9%±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% |
53.7%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% |
6.4%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Washington 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. |
$101,549±$16kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$125,307±$10k 55% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Bellingham 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. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$450,700±$13kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Washington 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 30% above U.S. |
$1,204±$264Lowest 15% below 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 | $7,213Highest 131% above U.S. |
$4,709Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$5,030 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Regional School District 12 | Bellingham |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| 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.