Compare towns
Hampton vs Mendon vs Lancaster vs Hartland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Hartland has the most homeowners (91.7%).
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 | Hampton | Mendon | Lancaster | Hartland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647Lowest |
6,325 |
8,606Highest |
1,840 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.8±4.9 25% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,167±$19kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33k 64% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$113,375±$13k 40% above 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 | $295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$350,700±$21k 5% above 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 | $1,285±$288Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,840±$196 30% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,819±$478 29% above 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 | $4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$7,213 131% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,633 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±54.9Lowest 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 | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Hartland 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hampton School District | Mendon-Upton | Nashoba | Hartland School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.