Compare towns
Heath vs Mendon vs Strafford vs Leyden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Leyden has the most homeowners (93.4%).
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 | Heath | Mendon | Strafford | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765 |
1,113 |
1,372Highest |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Lowest 32% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2 37% above U.S. |
| Heath and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$105,893±$13k 31% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$372,900±$24k 12% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,651 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| 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.