Compare towns
Erving vs Mendon vs Upton vs Wendell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Erving has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.
| Measure | Erving | Mendon | Upton | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
6,325 |
8,189Highest |
850Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
47.1±8.8Highest 18% above MA |
| Wendell and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wendell and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.9% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
| Upton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
| Mendon and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,239±$519 30% below MA |
| Mendon and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$7,213 20% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,519 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Wendell 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 | — | #210 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | Mendon-Upton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | New Salem-Wendell |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.