Compare towns
Mendon vs Strafford vs Southampton
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 expensive homes ($616k median).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Southampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Strafford | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,325Highest |
1,372Lowest |
6,230 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.4±3.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Mendon 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Southampton 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% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Strafford 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 64% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$123,125±$23k 53% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$452,300±$25k 36% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,213Highest 131% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$5,470Lowest 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Mendon 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 | — | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Strafford School District | Southampton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.