Compare towns
Lancaster vs Plainfield vs Mendon vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
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 | Plainfield | Mendon | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
1,314Lowest |
6,325 |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bolton 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% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Bolton 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. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$132,256±$33k 64% above U.S. |
$205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$616,000±$37k 85% above U.S. |
$796,000±$49kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,840±$196 30% above U.S. |
$1,583±$1k 12% 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. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$7,213 131% 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% |
73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton and Lancaster 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 | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | — | Mendon-Upton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.