Compare towns
Rochester vs Windsor Locks vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Windsor Locks | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,837Lowest |
12,579Highest |
6,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±6Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $120,273±$12k 49% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$132,256±$33kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $599,100±$31k 80% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% 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 | $1,432±$743 about the U.S. average |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,530 109% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,213Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #210 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Windsor Locks School District | Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.