What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jasper has the most kids (33.6% under 18).

Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jasper	Mendon
People
Population	1,308Highest	1,113Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.3±7.4Lowest 4% below U.S.	53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S.
	Mendon and Jasper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	33.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mendon and Jasper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,588±$7kLowest about the U.S. average	$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Mendon and Jasper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$123,600±$13kLowest 63% below U.S.	$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$658±$149Lowest 53% below U.S.	$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S.
	Mendon and Jasper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,250Lowest 28% below U.S.	$5,342Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.7%±54.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mendon and Jasper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 8% below U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	12.2%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mendon and Jasper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.