Compare towns
Mendon vs Braintree vs Middlesex vs Jamaica
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Jamaica has the most homeowners (96.9%).
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 | Mendon | Braintree | Middlesex | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
1,026 |
1,943Highest |
882Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
55.1±5.5 28% above VT |
| Braintree and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.7%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30%±8.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.4% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,219±$19kLowest about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$347,800±$50k 10% above VT |
| Middlesex and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$870±$464 29% below VT |
| Middlesex and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,342 6% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,773 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±12.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.