What stands out worked out from the figures below

Minerva has the most affordable homes ($172k median).

Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Minerva	Mendon
People
Population	836Lowest	1,113Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.2±5.7Highest 44% above U.S.	53.4±10.5Lowest 37% above U.S.
	Minerva and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Mendon and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	29%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Minerva and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,303±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.	$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$171,800±$22kLowest 48% below U.S.	$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$784±$102Lowest 45% below U.S.	$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S.
	Mendon and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,608Lowest 16% below U.S.	$5,342Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.7%±74.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mendon and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	11.6%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mendon and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.