Compare towns
Avon vs Lancaster vs Mendon vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k 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 | Avon | Lancaster | Mendon | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
8,606Highest |
6,325 |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
| Mendon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.9% MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Avon and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $130,625±$33k 26% above MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
$107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA |
| Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,600±$62k 9% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,558±$265 12% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
| Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,627 11% above MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$7,213 20% above MA |
$5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #212 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Nashoba | Mendon-Upton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | None in town | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
— | — | 12.9Highest |
| 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.