Compare towns
Lancaster vs Thomaston vs Windsor Locks 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%).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k 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 | Thomaston | Windsor Locks | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
7,492 |
12,579Highest |
6,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Lancaster 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$132,256±$33k 64% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mendon 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. |
$282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% 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. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$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 | $7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,213 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest 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% |
2.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #145 of 282 in MA | #106 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #210 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Thomaston School District | Windsor Locks School District | Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Thomaston High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.