Compare towns
Mendon vs Rowley vs Windsor Locks vs Lancaster
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 most kids (22.8% under 18).
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Rowley | Windsor Locks | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,325 |
6,251Lowest |
12,579Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
50±6.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Rowley 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Rowley 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% |
21.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rowley and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Windsor Locks 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 64% above U.S. |
$132,734±$32k 64% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,000±$37k 85% above U.S. |
$667,300±$52kHighest 101% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Rowley and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196 30% above U.S. |
$1,603±$520 13% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,213 131% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±27.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #210 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Triton | Windsor Locks School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.