Compare towns
Mendon vs Newfields vs Lancaster vs Rochester
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 kids (22.8% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
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 | Newfields | Lancaster | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,325 |
2,023Lowest |
8,606Highest |
5,837 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.5±6Highest 20% above U.S. |
| 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%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Mendon 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$120,273±$12kLowest 49% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,000±$37k 85% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$599,100±$31k 80% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Mendon 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. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,432±$743Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Lancaster and Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$6,530Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±10.2Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Newfields 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #104 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Newfields School District | Nashoba | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.