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School district comparison · MCAS 2026 · other data 2024-25

Bellingham vs Medway Schools

How the two districts, about 6 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.

The short answer

  • Overall: Medway ranks higher, #55 to Bellingham's #176 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Medway students score higher: ELA 57% vs 28%, Math 59% vs 31% met expectations. Statewide: 41% and 41%.
  • SAT: Medway averages 74 points higher (1173 vs 1099).
  • Spending: Bellingham spends $2,449 more per student ($21,558 vs $19,110).
  • Homes: Homes cost more in Medway: single-family homes average $699K vs $490K. The average tax bill is $6,073 in Bellingham and $9,786 in Medway.

MCAS results, 2026

Share of students meeting or exceeding expectations, all tested grades combined. Both districts test grades 3–10; "State" is the statewide figure for the same grades.

English Language ArtsMedway ahead
Bellingham
28%
Medway
57%
State
41%
MathMedway ahead
Bellingham
31%
Medway
59%
State
41%
ELA by year
YearBellinghamMedwayState
202628%57%41%
202531%59%43%
202428%57%42%
202336%57%45%
202235%57%44%
202142%65%48%
Math by year
YearBellinghamMedwayState
202631%59%41%
202534%59%41%
202432%62%42%
202334%59%42%
202235%57%40%
202130%55%35%

No test in 2020. Statewide 10th-grade results dropped after 2024, when passing the MCAS stopped being a graduation requirement.

High school results

Average SATMedway ahead
Bellingham
1099
Medway
1173
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Medway ahead
Bellingham
75%
Medway
79.5%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateMedway ahead
Bellingham
92.2%
Medway
97.3%
MA avg
92.4%

Averages of each district's ranked high schools. "MA avg" is the average of all districts with high school data.

Classrooms, teachers & spending

Average class sizeAbout the same
Bellingham
17.4
Medway
17.7
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateMedway ahead
Bellingham
93.4%
Medway
94.9%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Medway
Bellingham
19.2%
Medway
9.4%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearBellingham ahead
Bellingham
88.5%
Medway
80%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Bellingham
Bellingham
$21,558
Medway
$19,110
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Bellingham
Bellingham
$98,522
Medway
$90,793
MA median
$91,393

Spending is total per-pupil expenditure from all sources in FY2024. Class size is the average across all classes in the district.

Students

BellinghamMedway
Students in classes2,0582,171
English learners6.1%4.7%
Students with disabilities23.7%16.9%
White70%76.7%
Asian3.4%6.4%
Hispanic/Latino18.6%10.2%
Black/African American3.5%2.7%
Multi-race3.8%3.8%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Medway
Bellingham
$490K
Medway
$699K
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Medway
Bellingham
$6,073
Medway
$9,786
MA median
$6,814
Bellingham
Norfolk County · Greater Boston — I-95 to I-495
Avg single-family home value$490KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$6,073MA median $6,814
Tax rate$12.40 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$43,546MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school94.2%
Town bond ratingAA+
Free cash reserves4.6% of budget
Medway
Norfolk County · Greater Boston — I-95 to I-495
Avg single-family home value$699KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$9,786MA median $6,814
Tax rate$14.00 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$64,604MA median $47,872
Local kids in public school95.3%
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves9.7% of budget

What could you afford in either town?

FY2026 averages for single-family homes from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue; for a district with several towns, the comparison uses the average of its towns. Assessed values usually run below recent sale prices.

The schools

Bellingham
High schools · rank of 335
Bellingham High SchoolSAT 1099#182 B-
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Stall Brook#422 B-Joseph F DiPietro Elementary School#514 C+
Medway
High schools · rank of 335
Medway HighSAT 1173#84 B
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Burke/Memorial Elementary School#157 B+