Compare towns
Mendon vs Wayne 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%).
Wayne has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Wayne | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,325 |
1,101Lowest |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Wayne 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. |
$93,194±$26kLowest 15% 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. |
$362,800±$29kLowest 9% 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. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% 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. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Wayne 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | RSU 38 | 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.