Compare towns
Mendon vs Sandgate vs Castleton 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 highest household income ($101k).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Sandgate | Castleton | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
435Lowest |
4,453Highest |
882 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
55.1±5.5 28% above VT |
| Sandgate and Jamaica 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% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.7%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton 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% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$79,219±$19k about the VT average |
| Mendon and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$347,800±$50k 10% above VT |
| Mendon and Jamaica 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 |
— | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$870±$464Lowest 29% below VT |
| Mendon and Castleton 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 |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$4,773 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Castleton 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±12.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Jamaica 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school 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.