Compare towns
Lancaster vs Topsfield 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).
Topsfield has the highest household income ($196k).
Mendon has the oldest population (median age 44.1).
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 | Topsfield | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
6,564 |
6,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
| 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%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield 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% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Topsfield 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 |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$132,256±$33kLowest 27% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,840±$196 4% above MA |
| 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 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,213Lowest 20% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest 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% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Topsfield | Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.