Compare towns
Rochester vs Marion vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
Marion has the most people working from home (20.1%).
Mendon has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Rochester | Marion | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,837 |
5,310Lowest |
6,325Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±6 16% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
| Marion and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marion and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.7% MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Marion and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $120,273±$12kLowest 16% above MA |
$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
$132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
| Marion and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $599,100±$31kLowest 7% above MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
| Marion and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,432±$743 19% below MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
| Mendon and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,530 9% above MA |
$5,766Lowest 4% below MA |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±10.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 25% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Marion 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 | #104 of 282 in MA | #141 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Marion | Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.