Compare towns
Mendon vs Orange 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 youngest population (median age 44.1).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($492k median).
Rochester has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
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 | Orange | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,325 |
14,315Highest |
5,837Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.6±2.4 17% above U.S. |
46.5±6Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Orange 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange 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% |
23%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Rochester 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% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Orange 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. |
$142,325±$10kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$120,273±$12kLowest 49% above U.S. |
| Orange 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. |
$491,500±$17kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$599,100±$31k 80% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Rochester 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. |
$2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
$1,432±$743Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Orange 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. |
$8,988Highest 188% above U.S. |
$6,530Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Orange 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% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orange 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #104 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester |
| High school 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 | 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.