What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).

Red Hook has the most expensive homes ($430k median).

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	Red Hook
People
Population	9,019Lowest	11,108Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-12.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.6±2.6Lowest 7% above NY	42.7±2.4Highest 7% above NY
	Red Hook 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%	17.7%±2.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	19.1%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	19.2%±2.5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Red Hook 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%Highest NY: 40.2%	57.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%	14.7%±2.3Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$131,778±$17kHighest 53% above NY	$112,363±$7kLowest 31% above NY
	Mendon and Red Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,700±$37kLowest 8% below NY	$430,000±$25kHighest about the NY average
	Red Hook and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$208Lowest 26% below NY	$1,436±$101Highest 11% below NY
	Red Hook and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,808Highest 34% above NY	$8,229Lowest 25% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.5%±7.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	62.8%±9.6Highest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest NY: 14%	8.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	76.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 17% below NY	26 minLowest 20% below NY
Work from home	24.5%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9%	22.9%±5.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Mendon and Red Hook 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	#181 of 484 in NY
School district	HONEOYE FALLS-LIMA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	RED HOOK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	HONEOYE FALLS-LIMA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	RED HOOK SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2Lowest	10.4Highest
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.