Compare towns
Mendon vs Castleton 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%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Jamaica has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
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 | Castleton | Middlesex | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
4,453Highest |
1,943 |
882Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
55.1±5.5Highest 28% above VT |
| Jamaica and Mendon 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.7%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Jamaica and Mendon 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.9%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,219±$19k 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$870±$464Lowest 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% 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% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
79%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 |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.