Compare towns
Mendon vs Spencer vs Hopedale
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%).
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
Hopedale has the oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
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 | Spencer | Hopedale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,325 |
12,008Highest |
6,027Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
44.4±5.2 11% above MA |
| Spencer and Hopedale 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% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±6.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Hopedale 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% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Hopedale 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% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Hopedale 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 27% above MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$115,722±$19k 11% above MA |
| Mendon and Hopedale 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 |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$466,100±$28k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,788±$223 about the MA average |
| Mendon and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,868 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±30.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Mendon and Spencer 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #125 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Spencer-E Brookfield | Hopedale |
| High school in town | None in town | David Prouty High | Hopedale Jr Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
10.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.