Compare towns

Boylston vs Hopedale vs Mendon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Hopedale has the most affordable homes ($466k median).
Mendon has the most homeowners (86.9%).

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.

MeasureBoylstonHopedaleMendon
People
Population
4,948Lowest
6,027
6,325Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.7%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
48.2±2.3Highest
21% above MA
44.4±5.2
11% above MA
44.1±4.4Lowest
10% above MA
Boylston and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18%±3.6Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.4%±6.6
MA: 19.4%
22.8%±6.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
Mendon and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22%±4.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±4.7
MA: 17.9%
14.7%±3.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Boylston and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
48.3%
MA: 47.3%
46.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.7Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.1%±3.2
MA: 7.9%
6.8%±2.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
Mendon and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$140,962±$28kHighest
36% above MA
$115,722±$19kLowest
11% above MA
$132,256±$33k
27% above MA
Boylston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$578,600±$47k
about the MA average
$466,100±$28kLowest
17% below MA
$616,000±$37kHighest
10% above MA
Mendon and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,032±$350Highest
15% above MA
$1,788±$223Lowest
about the MA average
$1,840±$196
4% above MA
Boylston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,266Highest
21% above MA
$6,868Lowest
15% above MA
$7,213
20% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.1%±16.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
46.9%±30.9
MA: 51.8%
78.7%±26Highest
MA: 51.8%
Mendon and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.4%
MA: 10%
2.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
7.1%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
79.5%
MA: 62.5%
86.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
13 yrs newer than MA
1959Lowest
5 yrs older than MA
1985Highest
21 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
8% below MA
31 minHighest
6% above MA
30 min
4% above MA
Work from home
22.7%±5.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
13.2%±5.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
15.1%±5.7
MA: 18.6%
Boylston and Mendon 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 #72 of 282 in MA #125 of 282 in MA #210 of 282 in MA
School district Berlin-Boylston Hopedale Mendon-Upton
High school in town Tahanto Regional High Hopedale Jr Sr High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
10.2Lowest
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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.