Compare towns
Mendon vs Springfield vs Douglas 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 most expensive homes ($616k median).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Springfield | Douglas | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,325Lowest |
154,749Highest |
9,207 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Mendon and Douglas 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Douglas 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% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Mendon 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 |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Douglas 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±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Mendon and Lancaster 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 |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 21 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Douglas 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Springfield | Douglas | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
7.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.