Compare towns
Mendon vs Lancaster 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Lancaster | Hopedale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,325 |
8,606Highest |
4,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
41.5±7.7Lowest 4% above MA |
| Mendon and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±8.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
21%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.4%±4.6 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±$33k 27% above MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$107,909±$18kLowest 4% above MA |
| 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 10% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$424,800±$44kLowest 24% below MA |
| 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 4% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,805±$233Lowest about the MA average |
| 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 20% above MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$6,023Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
48.3%±31.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #210 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #125 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.