Compare towns
Mendon vs Union vs Upton vs Rochester
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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Union | Upton | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,325 |
944Lowest |
8,189Highest |
5,837 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
46.5±6 20% above U.S. |
| Union and Rochester 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Upton 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Union 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. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$120,273±$12k 49% above U.S. |
| Upton 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. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$599,100±$31k 80% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
— | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,432±$743 about the U.S. average |
| Mendon and Rochester 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. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,530 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Mendon 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #104 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Union School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.