Compare towns
Lancaster vs Reading vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Reading | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
25,612Highest |
6,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
| Mendon and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 30% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$132,256±$33kLowest 27% above MA |
| Reading 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 8% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,840±$196Lowest 4% above MA |
| Lancaster and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 21% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$7,213Lowest 20% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | — | Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.