Compare towns
Dorchester vs Mendon vs Marlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Marlow has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Dorchester | Mendon | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
1,113Highest |
855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7Lowest 36% 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlow and Mendon 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% |
30.5%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Marlow and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $100,524±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Mendon and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,154±$160Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$5,826Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Marlow 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → |
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.