Compare towns
Mendon vs Rochester 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).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Rochester | Ripton | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
1,389Highest |
508Lowest |
882 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.7%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Mendon and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
30%±8.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest 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 |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% 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 |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% 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±$651Highest about the VT average |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
— | $870±$464Lowest 29% below VT |
| Mendon and Rochester 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 |
$3,977Lowest 21% 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% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Rochester 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±12.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | 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.