Compare towns
Mendon vs Jay vs Ripton 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 the shortest commute (17 min average).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Jay | Ripton | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113Highest |
471Lowest |
508 |
882 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.7%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Mendon and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30%±8.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$79,219±$19k about the VT average |
| Ripton 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$347,800±$50k 10% above VT |
| Ripton 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 about the VT average |
— | — | $870±$464Lowest 29% below VT |
| Mendon and Jamaica 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,773 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Ripton 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±12.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.