Compare towns
Mendon vs Everett vs Lawrence vs Rochester
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 most people working from home (15.1%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Lawrence has the most affordable homes ($415k median).
Rochester has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
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.
| Measure | Mendon | Everett | Lawrence | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,325 |
50,045 |
88,736Highest |
5,837Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+9.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
46.5±6Highest 16% above MA |
| Rochester 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% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Rochester 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$120,273±$12k 16% above MA |
| Mendon and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$599,100±$31k 7% above MA |
| Mendon and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,432±$743Lowest 19% below MA |
| Everett and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,530 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6 MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±10.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Mendon and Everett 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #104 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Everett | Lawrence | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | Lawrence High School | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
13.6Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.