Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Lancaster vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($411k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Mendon has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Bethlehem | Lancaster | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
8,606Highest |
6,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33k 64% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,840±$196 30% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$7,213 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #82 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Nashoba | Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.