Compare towns
Mendon vs Princeton vs Lancaster vs Upton
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%).
Princeton has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Princeton | Lancaster | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,325 |
3,529Lowest |
8,606Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
46.1±7 15% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Princeton 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% |
22.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.9%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,256±$33kLowest 27% above MA |
$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Princeton and Upton 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 |
$520,500±$48k 7% below MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Mendon and Upton 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 |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$948±$599 46% below 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 |
$6,633Lowest 11% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Princeton 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% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Princeton 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 | #59 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Wachusett | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.2 |
| 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.