Compare towns
Mendon vs Exeter vs Hopedale
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hopedale has the most affordable homes ($425k 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 | Exeter | Hopedale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,325 |
16,151Highest |
4,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±8.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hopedale 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±4.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Hopedale 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 64% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$107,909±$18kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$424,800±$44kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196 30% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,805±$233Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,213 131% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,023Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.3%±31.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Exeter 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #125 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.