Compare towns
Hingham vs Mendon vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
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 | Hingham | Mendon | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Highest |
6,325Lowest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
| Hingham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$132,256±$33kLowest 27% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,840±$196Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,338±$539 33% above MA |
| Hingham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,213Lowest 20% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12Lowest MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 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 | 4.3% MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Hingham 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Mendon-Upton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hingham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.