Compare towns
Strafford vs Jamaica vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Jamaica has the most homeowners (96.9%).
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.
| Measure | Strafford | Jamaica | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Highest |
882Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Lowest 19% above VT |
55.1±5.5Highest 28% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% 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 | 23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.7%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 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+ | 53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±3.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$79,219±$19kLowest about the VT average |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$347,800±$50kLowest 10% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$870±$464Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,773Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest about the VT average |
23 min 4% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Jamaica 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.