Compare towns
Florida vs Lancaster vs Mendon vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Florida has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Washington has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Florida | Lancaster | Mendon | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 668 |
8,606Highest |
6,325 |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.9% MA: 47.3% |
32.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,875±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,840±$196 4% above MA |
— |
| Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$7,213 20% above MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Florida | 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 | 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.