What stands out worked out from the figures below

Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+53.8%).

Mendon has the most expensive homes ($357k median).

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	Vernon	Mendon
People
Population	8,219Highest	1,113Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+53.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.6±2.5Lowest 20% above U.S.	53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S.
	Mendon and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Vernon and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Vernon and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,601±$6kLowest 4% below U.S.	$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Mendon and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$202,100±$11kLowest 39% below U.S.	$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$900±$127Lowest 36% below U.S.	$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S.
	Mendon and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,656Lowest 17% above U.S.	$5,342Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 17% below U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	13.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mendon and Vernon 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	#368 of 484 in NY	—
School district	SHERRILL CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.