What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k median).

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	Lempster	Mendon
People
Population	953Lowest	1,113Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.8±7.2Lowest 31% above U.S.	53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S.
	Mendon and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Mendon and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Mendon and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lempster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,607±$12kLowest 7% above U.S.	$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Mendon and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$241,900±$29kLowest 27% below U.S.	$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,230±$651 13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,558Lowest 46% above U.S.	$5,342Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	88.6%±42.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lempster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	92.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977 3 yrs older than U.S.	1977 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Lempster School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.