What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).

Mendon has the most expensive homes ($357k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dorchester	Mendon
People
Population	410Lowest	1,113Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+8.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S.	53.4±10.5Lowest 37% above U.S.
	Dorchester and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Mendon and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	29%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dorchester and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mendon and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	—	$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S.	$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,230±$651 13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S.	$5,342Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mendon and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	92.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 52% above U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mendon and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.