What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hamlin has the most affordable homes ($166k 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	Hamlin	Mendon
People
Population	8,652Highest	1,113Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.9±3.7Lowest 8% above U.S.	53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S.
	Mendon and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hamlin and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hamlin and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,510±$9kLowest 3% above U.S.	$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Mendon and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$166,200±$9kLowest 50% below U.S.	$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,062±$137Lowest 25% below U.S.	$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S.
	Mendon and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,343Lowest 39% above U.S.	$5,342Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.6%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mendon and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mendon and Hamlin 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.