Compare towns
Lancaster vs Mendon vs Rye
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 affordable homes ($519k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
6,325 |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Lancaster 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. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye 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±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37k 85% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,840±$196 30% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Lowest 26% 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 | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$7,213Lowest 131% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% 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% |
44.3%±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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nashoba | Mendon-Upton | Rye 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.