What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mendon has the most affordable homes ($389k median).

North Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).

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	Mendon	North Salem
People
Population	9,019Highest	5,148Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+2.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.6±2.6Lowest 7% above NY	43±3.4Highest 8% above NY
	North Salem and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25%±4.6Highest NY: 20.5%	21.8%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Mendon and North Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.4%±3.5Highest NY: 17.9%
	North Salem and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	63.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%	65.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%	8.6%±3.3Highest NY: 7%
	North Salem and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$131,778±$17kLowest 53% above NY	$178,750±$29kHighest 108% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,700±$37kLowest 8% below NY	$670,600±$36kHighest 58% above NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$208Lowest 26% below NY	$1,660±$544Highest about the NY average
	North Salem and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,808Lowest 34% above NY	$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.5%±7.8Highest NY: 52.1%	33.1%±22.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Mendon and North Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Highest NY: 14%	3.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	80.5%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 17% below NY	40 minHighest 21% above NY
Work from home	24.5%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9%	23.4%±7.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Mendon and North Salem 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	#20 of 484 in NY	#103 of 484 in NY
School district	HONEOYE FALLS-LIMA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	NORTH SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	HONEOYE FALLS-LIMA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	NORTH SALEM MIDDLE SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2Highest	7.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.