Compare towns
Marion vs Mendon vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marion has the most affordable homes ($180k median).
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 | Marion | Mendon | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,523Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,469±$12kLowest about the U.S. average |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $180,300±$27kLowest 46% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $639±$394Lowest 55% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,580Lowest 47% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #194 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | MARION CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | MARION JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.