Compare towns
Mendon vs Plainfield 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 highest household income ($132k).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Plainfield | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,325Highest |
2,522Lowest |
5,837 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
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%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,256±$33kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$120,273±$12kLowest 49% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Plainfield 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. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% 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±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,432±$743Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Mendon and Plainfield 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$6,530Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±10.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #104 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Plainfield School District | 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.