Compare towns
Evans vs Mendon vs Strafford vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Evans has the youngest population (median age 49.5).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Hanover has the most affordable homes ($142k 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 | Evans | Mendon | Strafford | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,183Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,372 |
6,882 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±2.8Lowest 27% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
50.6±5.5 30% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Evans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,467±$8k 10% below U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$71,563±$9kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$10k 47% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$141,500±$16kLowest 57% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$104Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$993±$105 30% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,590 47% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$2,881Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.5%±22.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Strafford 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 | #180 of 484 in NY | — | — | #196 of 484 in NY |
| School district | EVANS-BRANT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (LAKE SHORE) | — | Strafford School District | FORESTVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SILVER CREEK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | LAKE SHORE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town | SILVER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
— | — | 9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.