Compare towns
Mendon vs Pendleton vs Strafford 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 the shortest commute (17 min average).
Pendleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Pendleton | Strafford | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
7,034Highest |
1,372 |
882Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
46.7±4.1Lowest 20% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% 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% |
21.6%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Pendleton 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% |
23%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Pendleton 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. |
$113,750±$27kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$79,219±$19kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Pendleton and Strafford 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. |
$294,300±$39kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$347,800±$50k 5% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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 13% below U.S. |
$994±$119 30% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$870±$464Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Strafford 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. |
$6,623 112% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,773Lowest 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.6%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Strafford 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% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #67 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | — | STARPOINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Strafford School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | STARPOINT HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.5 |
— | — |
| 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.