Compare towns
Jamaica vs Dover vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jamaica has the most homeowners (96.9%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Mendon has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Jamaica | Dover | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 882Lowest |
1,466Highest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.1±5.5Highest 28% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
53.4±10.5Lowest 24% above VT |
| Jamaica and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Mendon and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Jamaica and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Jamaica and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,219±$19k about the VT average |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $347,800±$50k 10% above VT |
$332,900±$55kLowest 5% above VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
| Mendon and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$464 29% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,773 5% below VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 4% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.