Compare towns
Mendon vs Whiting vs Moriah 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 most people working from home (22.5%).
Whiting has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Moriah has the most affordable homes ($138k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Whiting | Moriah | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
532Lowest |
4,483Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
56.7±3Highest 46% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Moriah and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Strafford 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Moriah 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%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% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
$63,113±$6kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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 7% above U.S. |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
$138,200±$9kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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 13% below U.S. |
$1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
$832±$165Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Whiting 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. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
$2,644Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±25.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Whiting 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Strafford 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 | — | — | #380 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | MORIAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | MORIAH JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.