Compare towns
Mendon vs Wells 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Wells | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,113 |
1,148Highest |
882Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
50.7±5.2Lowest 18% 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% |
15.1%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.7%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wells 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% |
24.5%±2.2Lowest 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% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Jamaica and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% 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 |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% 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±$651 about the VT average |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$870±$464Lowest 29% below VT |
| Wells and Mendon 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 |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,773 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Wells 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest 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 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.