Compare towns

Mendon vs Killingly vs Lancaster 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).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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.

MeasureMendonKillinglyLancasterHopedale
People
Population
6,325
17,867Highest
8,606
6,027Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±4.4
13% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
44.4±5.2Highest
14% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±6.6
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hopedale and Lancaster 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%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±3.2
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±$33k
64% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$134,833±$27kHighest
67% above U.S.
$115,722±$19k
43% above U.S.
Lancaster 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.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$519,100±$60k
56% above U.S.
$466,100±$28k
40% above U.S.
Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,840±$196
30% above U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,788±$223
27% above U.S.
Lancaster 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.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
$6,868
120% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
78.7%±26Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±30.9
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±5.7
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.2%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #210 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #145 of 282 in MA #125 of 282 in MA
School district Mendon-Upton Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Nashoba Hopedale
High school in town None in town Killingly High School None in town Hopedale Jr Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
—
10.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 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.