Compare towns
Mendon vs Ripton vs Fair Haven 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Ripton | Fair Haven | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
508Lowest |
2,724Highest |
882 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.7%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.9%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below 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±$651Highest about the VT average |
— | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$870±$464 29% below VT |
| 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 6% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,773 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.