Compare towns
Mendon vs Orange 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).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Ripton | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113Highest |
957 |
508Lowest |
882 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% 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%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.7%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% 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 |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% 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±$651 about the VT average |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
— | $870±$464Lowest 29% below VT |
| Orange and Mendon 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 |
$3,545Lowest 30% 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% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100 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% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 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 |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jamaica and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | 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.