Compare towns
Hopedale vs Putnam vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hopedale has the oldest population (median age 44.4).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k 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 | Putnam | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,027Lowest |
9,292Highest |
6,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±5.2Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Hopedale and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hopedale and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $115,722±$19k 43% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$132,256±$33kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $466,100±$28k 40% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,788±$223 27% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868 120% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$7,213Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±30.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Hopedale 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #210 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hopedale | Putnam School District | Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Hopedale Jr Sr High | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.