Compare towns
Mendon vs Stratton 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).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Ripton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1973).
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 | Stratton | Ripton | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113Highest |
532 |
508Lowest |
882 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
47.7±14.2 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%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.7%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest 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% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$79,219±$19kLowest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Ripton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$347,800±$50kLowest 10% above VT |
| Stratton 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 about the VT average |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
— | $870±$464Lowest 29% below VT |
| Mendon and Stratton 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 |
$4,750Lowest 6% 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% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 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 | ||||
| School district | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.