Compare towns
Lancaster vs Berlin vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Lancaster | Berlin | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
3,378Lowest |
6,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Berlin and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
| Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
| Berlin and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,840±$196Lowest 4% above MA |
| Berlin and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
$7,213 20% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest 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 | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1985 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Berlin-Boylston | Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.