Compare towns
Mendon vs Paxton vs Worcester vs Lancaster
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).
Paxton has the most homeowners (91.8%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Paxton | Worcester | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,325 |
5,002Lowest |
207,055Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
43.1±4.9 8% 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%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Paxton 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% |
54.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Paxton and Worcester 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 |
$134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
| Lancaster and Paxton 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 |
$472,300±$29k 16% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% 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 |
$1,386±$88Lowest 21% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| 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 |
$7,129 19% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 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% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% MA: 62.5% |
91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Paxton 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 | #219 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Wachusett | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.6 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.