What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

Jackson has the most affordable homes ($235k 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	Jackson
People
Population	1,113Lowest	1,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.4±10.5Lowest 37% above U.S.	56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S.
	Jackson 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%	14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	29%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jackson 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 U.S.: 35.7%	32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mendon and Jackson 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 25% above U.S.	$77,375±$8kLowest 4% below U.S.
	Mendon and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S.	$235,400±$40kLowest 29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S.	$1,139±$43Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Mendon and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,342Highest 71% above U.S.	$4,165Lowest 34% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	77.8%±44.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mendon and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	91.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mendon and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.