Compare towns
Hopedale vs Mendon vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hopedale has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k 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 | Hopedale | Mendon | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,360Lowest |
6,325Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7Lowest 4% above MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
| Mendon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±8.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hopedale and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hopedale and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4% MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±4.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,909±$18k 4% above MA |
$132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA |
| Mendon and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$44k 24% below MA |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$233 about the MA average |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
| Mendon and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023 about the MA average |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.3%±31.9 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 11%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Mendon and Barre 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 | #125 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Mendon-Upton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.