Compare towns
Strafford vs Jackson vs Tunbridge vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Tunbridge has the youngest population (median age 42.7).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Strafford | Jackson | Tunbridge | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372Highest |
897Lowest |
1,253 |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
42.7±8.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$89,464±$26kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$315,300±$23kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,346±$128 5% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,001 92% above U.S. |
$4,645Lowest 49% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Tunbridge and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Strafford School District | Jackson School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 | — |
| 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 |
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.