Compare towns
Mendon vs Orange vs Jamaica
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Orange | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,113 |
7,573Highest |
882Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.1±5.5Highest 42% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 25% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$79,219±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Mendon and Jamaica 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. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$347,800±$50k 5% above U.S. |
| 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 13% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$870±$464 38% below U.S. |
| 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 71% above U.S. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,773 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Orange 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±12.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.