Compare towns
Lancaster vs Hampton vs Mendon vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k 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 | Lancaster | Hampton | Mendon | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
16,426Highest |
6,325Lowest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Pepperell 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 67% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33k 64% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% 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 | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,840±$196 30% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below 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 | $7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$7,213 131% above U.S. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest 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 | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #210 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Mendon-Upton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.