Compare towns
Mendon vs Danby vs Highgate 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%).
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
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 | Danby | Highgate | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
1,133 |
3,528Highest |
882Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.7%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate 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% |
24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.8% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.9%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Jamaica and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$77,321±$13kLowest 5% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$79,219±$19k about the VT average |
| Mendon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$272,400±$41kLowest 14% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$347,800±$50k 10% above VT |
| Mendon and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$870±$464 29% below VT |
| Mendon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,543 10% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,773 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Danby 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% |
9.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
89.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.