Compare towns
Washington vs Mendon vs Lenox vs Middlefield
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%).
Lenox has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Middlefield has the most affordable homes ($333k 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.
| Measure | Washington | Mendon | Lenox | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 526 |
6,325Highest |
5,079 |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
56.9±3.7 42% above MA |
| Lenox and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% MA: 47.3% |
46.9% MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12kLowest 8% below MA |
$132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$106,080±$31k about the MA average |
$103,750±$23k about the MA average |
| Mendon and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$466,700±$43k 17% below MA |
$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| Middlefield and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381Lowest 27% below MA |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$5,299 12% below MA |
$4,926 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26 MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Lenox 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 | #90 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Mendon-Upton | Lenox | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Lenox Memorial High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.