What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sand Ridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).

Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).

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	Sand Ridge	Mendon
People
Population	838Lowest	1,113Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.2±10.3Lowest 37% above U.S.	53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S.
	Mendon and Sand Ridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.5%±12Highest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sand Ridge and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	32.5%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	29%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sand Ridge and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mendon and Sand Ridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$34,821±$20kLowest 57% below U.S.	$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$211,500±$153kLowest 36% below U.S.	$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S.
	Mendon and Sand Ridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,230±$651 13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,280Highest 101% above U.S.	$5,342Lowest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mendon and Sand Ridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	36.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 26% below U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	2.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
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.