Compare towns
Hull vs Lenox vs Mendon vs Brewster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hull has the oldest housing (typical home built 1946).
Lenox has the most affordable homes ($467k median).
Mendon has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Brewster has the most expensive homes ($708k 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 | Hull | Lenox | Mendon | Brewster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,138 |
5,079Lowest |
6,325 |
10,420Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±1.8 40% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
59.6±4.7 49% above MA |
| Lenox and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.4% MA: 47.3% |
52.7% MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$106,080±$31k about the MA average |
$132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average |
| Mendon and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
$466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$707,700±$51kHighest 26% above MA |
| Brewster and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$1,589±$465 10% below MA |
| Hull and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,089 about the MA average |
$5,299 12% below MA |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
23 min 22% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Brewster and Hull 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 | #66 of 282 in MA | #90 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hull | Lenox | Mendon-Upton | Brewster |
| High school in town | Hull High | Lenox Memorial High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.8Highest |
7.6Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.