Compare towns
Mendon vs Whiting vs Williston 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).
Whiting has the most affordable homes ($280k median).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k 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 | Whiting | Williston | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
532Lowest |
10,144Highest |
882 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.7%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Williston 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 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% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.9%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Williston 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 24% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$79,219±$19kLowest about the VT average |
| Williston 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 |
$280,400±$36kLowest 11% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$347,800±$50k 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$870±$464Lowest 29% below VT |
| Williston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,342 6% above VT |
$4,227Lowest 16% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,773 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
23 minHighest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.