Compare towns
Lancaster vs Mendon vs Orange 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%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Mendon | Orange | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
6,325Lowest |
14,315Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
45.6±2.4Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Orange and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Lancaster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 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±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33k 64% above U.S. |
$142,325±$10kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Orange and Lancaster 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. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$491,500±$17k 48% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Lancaster 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±$196 30% above U.S. |
$2,172±$161 54% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Orange 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. |
$7,213 131% above U.S. |
$8,988Highest 188% above U.S. |
$6,698Lowest 115% 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% |
64%±12.1 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% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #145 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | #38 of 149 in CT | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Mendon-Upton | — | North Middlesex |
| 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 | 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.