Compare towns
Jamaica vs Mendon vs Townshend
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%).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 882Lowest |
1,113 |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.1±5.5 28% above VT |
53.4±10.5Lowest 24% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Jamaica 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% |
14.6%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest 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%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest 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% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest 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 |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$78,750±$29kLowest 3% below 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 |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below 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±$464Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Mendon and Townshend 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 |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Townshend 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±12.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Jamaica 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 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.