Compare towns
Mendon vs Ripton vs Jefferson 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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($187k median).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Jefferson | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
508Lowest |
1,226 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Jefferson 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Ripton 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% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Ripton 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. |
— | — | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% 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. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$3,602Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Mendon 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.