What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($187k 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	Jefferson
People
Population	1,113Lowest	1,226Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.4±10.5Lowest 37% above U.S.	53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S.
	Jefferson 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 U.S.: 22%	12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Mendon and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jefferson 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%	29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mendon and Jefferson 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.	$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S.	$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,230±$651 13% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,342Highest 71% above U.S.	$3,602Lowest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	88.6%±42.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jefferson and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	22.5%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jefferson and Mendon 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.