Compare towns
Lancaster vs Mendon vs Newfields
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%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Mendon | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
6,325 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest 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+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33kLowest 64% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37k 85% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Mendon 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. |
$1,840±$196Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$7,213Lowest 131% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest 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% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Newfields 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 | Nashoba | Mendon-Upton | Newfields School District |
| 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.