Compare towns
Mendon vs Acton vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k 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 | Mendon | Acton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,325Lowest |
24,155Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
| Acton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,256±$33kLowest 27% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Acton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196Lowest 4% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,213Lowest 20% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 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 | 7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Lancaster 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Acton-Boxborough | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.