Compare towns
Mendon vs Reading vs Scituate 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Reading has the highest household income ($166k).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
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 | Scituate | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,325Lowest |
25,612Highest |
19,365 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
47.1±3.1Highest 18% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
| Scituate 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% |
22.2%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Scituate and Reading 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% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
66.8%Highest 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%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Scituate 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$136,732±$16k 32% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$847,600±$25kHighest 51% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Scituate and Reading 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 |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,609±$311Lowest 9% 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 | $7,213Lowest 20% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$8,807 47% 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% |
52.7%±10.3 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% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.8%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 |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
38 minHighest 31% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
28%±4 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 | #43 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Reading | Scituate | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Scituate High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.