Compare towns
Mendon vs Reading vs Rochester 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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
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 | Reading | Rochester | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,325 |
25,612Highest |
5,837Lowest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
46.5±6Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Rochester 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$120,273±$12kLowest 16% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Reading and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$599,100±$31k 7% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,432±$743Lowest 19% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Reading 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,530Lowest 9% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±10.2 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #104 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Reading | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
9.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.