What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).

Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Mendon	Durham
People
Population	6,325Lowest	7,208Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S.	45.5±2.8Highest 17% above U.S.
	Durham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Mendon and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.4%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Durham and Mendon 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 U.S.: 35.7%	47.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mendon and Durham 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 64% above U.S.	$158,857±$7kHighest 97% above U.S.
	Durham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S.	$424,800±$23kLowest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S.	$1,154±$448Lowest 18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,213Lowest 131% above U.S.	$7,998Highest 156% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.9%±28.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mendon and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.5%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Durham and Mendon 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	#88 of 149 in CT
School district	Mendon-Upton	Regional School District 13
High school in town	None in town	Coginchaug Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.