Compare towns
Jackson vs Lancaster 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
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Mendon has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Jackson | Lancaster | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 897Lowest |
8,606Highest |
6,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,986±$46kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33k 64% 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 | $719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37k 85% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,840±$196 30% 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 | $6,001Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$7,213 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest 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 | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Jackson 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Jackson School District | Nashoba | Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.