Compare towns
Lancaster vs Windham 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%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
16,038Highest |
6,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 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%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Mendon 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% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Windham 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Windham 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33kLowest 64% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37k 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,840±$196Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Windham and Lancaster 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,213Lowest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #210 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Windham School District | Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.