Compare towns
Jamaica vs Sandgate vs Windham 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%).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Sandgate | Windham | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 882 |
435Lowest |
594 |
1,113Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.1±5.5 28% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
| Sandgate 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% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham 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% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Windham 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 |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
| Mendon and Windham 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 |
| 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 |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Windham 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±12.2 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate 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 | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.