Compare towns
Jamaica vs Mendon vs Strafford
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%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Mendon | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 882Lowest |
1,113 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.1±5.5Highest 28% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7Lowest 19% above VT |
| Jamaica and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Mendon 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%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Jamaica and Mendon 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% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±3.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,219±$19kLowest about the VT average |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $347,800±$50kLowest 10% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$464Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,773Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Strafford 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% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.2%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jamaica and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | Strafford School District |
| 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.