Compare towns

Mendon vs Wellesley vs Hopedale

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).
Hopedale has the most affordable homes ($466k median).

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.

MeasureMendonWellesleyHopedale
People
Population
6,325
30,347Highest
6,027Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.6%
MA: +7.4%
+1.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±4.4
10% above MA
37.1±2.2Lowest
7% below MA
44.4±5.2Highest
11% above MA
Hopedale 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
MA: 19.4%
24.1%±2Highest
MA: 19.4%
22.4%±6.6Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Wellesley 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
MA: 17.9%
15.5%±1.3
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±4.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
89%Highest
MA: 47.3%
48.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.8%±2.5
MA: 7.9%
18.3%±0.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
6.1%±3.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$132,256±$33k
27% above MA
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
$115,722±$19kLowest
11% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$616,000±$37k
10% above MA
$1,582,700±$49kHighest
182% above MA
$466,100±$28kLowest
17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,840±$196
4% above MA
$2,886±$360Highest
64% above MA
$1,788±$223Lowest
about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,213
20% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$6,868Lowest
15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
78.7%±26Highest
MA: 51.8%
44.1%±8.2Lowest
MA: 51.8%
46.9%±30.9
MA: 51.8%
Mendon and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.1%Highest
MA: 10%
4%
MA: 10%
2.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
84.4%
MA: 62.5%
79.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
21 yrs newer than MA
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
1959
5 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
4% above MA
27 minLowest
7% below MA
31 minHighest
6% above MA
Work from home
15.1%±5.7
MA: 18.6%
32%±2.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
13.2%±5.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #210 of 282 in MA #6 of 282 in MA #125 of 282 in MA
School district Mendon-Upton — Hopedale
High school in town None in town — Hopedale Jr Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.