Compare towns
Mendon vs Windsor Locks 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 expensive homes ($616k median).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Windsor Locks | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,325Lowest |
12,579 |
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±4.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
38.2±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Mendon and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor Locks and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Windsor Locks 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$450,700±$13k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,030 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Lowest 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bellingham and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Windsor Locks School District | Bellingham |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
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.