Compare towns
Mendon vs Chenango vs Strafford vs Jamaica
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Chenango has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Chenango | Strafford | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
10,787Highest |
1,372 |
882Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
41±2.8Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
55.1±5.5Highest 42% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Chenango 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 25% above U.S. |
$86,646±$9k 7% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$79,219±$19kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Strafford 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 7% above U.S. |
$172,000±$9kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$347,800±$50k 5% 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 | $1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,038±$97 27% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$870±$464Lowest 38% 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 | $5,342 71% above U.S. |
$3,700Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,773 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest 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 | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±12.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jamaica and Mendon 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 | — | #233 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | — | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Strafford School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.