What stands out worked out from the figures below

Columbus has the most affordable homes ($125k median).

Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Columbus	Mendon
People
Population	849Lowest	1,113Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.6±11.8Lowest 12% above U.S.	53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S.
	Mendon and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±9Highest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Columbus and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mendon and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,889±$11kLowest 27% below U.S.	$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$124,700±$36kLowest 63% below U.S.	$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,500±$635Highest 6% above U.S.	$1,230±$651Lowest 13% below U.S.
	Columbus and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,071Lowest about the U.S. average	$5,342Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±92.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mendon and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	22.2%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mendon and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.