Compare towns
Mendon vs Temple 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Temple has the most affordable homes ($401k 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 | Temple | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,325 |
1,363Lowest |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Temple 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% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Lancaster 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% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Temple 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% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Lancaster 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. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mendon 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. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| 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 30% above U.S. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$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. |
$6,983Lowest 124% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest 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% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Contoocook Valley School District | Nashoba |
| 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.