Compare towns
Mendon vs Gardner vs Hopedale
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 expensive homes ($616k median).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Hopedale has the oldest population (median age 44.4).
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 | Gardner | Hopedale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,325 |
21,148Highest |
6,027Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
44.4±5.2Highest 11% above MA |
| Hopedale 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 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±6.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Hopedale 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% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hopedale and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.9% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 27% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$115,722±$19k 11% above MA |
| Mendon and Hopedale 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 |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$466,100±$28k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,788±$223 about the MA average |
| Mendon and Hopedale 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 |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,868 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±30.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Mendon and Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #125 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Gardner | Hopedale |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Hopedale Jr Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
10.2Lowest |
| 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.