Compare towns
Halifax vs Lancaster vs Mendon vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Whitingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Halifax | Lancaster | Mendon | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Lowest |
8,606Highest |
6,325 |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Whitingham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33k 64% above U.S. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154 38% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,840±$196 30% above U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$7,213 131% above U.S. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Halifax 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Nashoba | Mendon-Upton | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.