Compare towns
Lancaster vs Rye vs Devens vs Mendon
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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Rye | Devens | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
5,611 |
1,723Lowest |
6,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Rye and Devens 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% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Devens 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. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33kLowest 64% above U.S. |
| Devens and Rye 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37k 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,500±$539Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$1,840±$196 30% 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$5,556Lowest 78% above U.S. |
$7,213 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Mendon 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | — | #210 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Rye School District | — | Mendon-Upton |
| 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.