Compare towns
Mendon vs Worcester vs Hopedale
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%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Hopedale has the most renters (20.5% rent).
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 | Worcester | Hopedale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,325Highest |
831Lowest |
6,027 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.4±5.2 14% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Hopedale 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Hopedale 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% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hopedale and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Mendon 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. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$115,722±$19k 43% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Hopedale 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. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$466,100±$28k 40% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,788±$223 27% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Hopedale 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. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±30.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | #125 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hopedale |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.