Compare towns
Mendon vs Olean vs North Hero vs Strafford
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 the most people working from home (22.5%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
North Hero has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.9%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Olean | North Hero | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113Lowest |
13,738Highest |
1,263 |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.2±6.7Highest 39% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| North Hero and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and North Hero 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% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Hero and Strafford 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. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$102,143±$24k 27% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford and North Hero 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. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$451,400±$66kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| North Hero and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,556±$360Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
| North Hero and Mendon 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. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,132 65% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±98.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and North Hero 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Strafford 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 | — | #337 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | — | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Champlain Islands Unified Union School District #66 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | — | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| 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.