Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The best of Mentz’s subject grades is an A for history; the weakest is a C− for health. On health, just 32 of New York’s 1,213 towns do worse. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 71% of U.S. towns. Among 759 New York towns, just 8 have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Mentz. Erie Canal Lock 52 Complex is on the National Register of Historic Places. Mentz has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Mentz beats most towns.
2,378 counted in 2010 and 2,114 in 2020; an estimated 2,207 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New York), ordered by how far Mentz is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 3,010 in 1820, a peak of 5,239 in 1850, 2,378 in 2010. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 1904 and 4 maps from 1902 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Mentz, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Mentz.
17% of Mentz adults report frequent physical distress, against 14% in New York’s towns and 14% across U.S. towns. 24% of Mentz adults say their health is fair or poor. Mentz beats the New York average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 17.
| Mentz | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 14% | 14% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 13% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 25% | 25% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 17% | 19% |
| What stands out | Mentz | NY |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 10.7% | 6% |
| More smokers | 19.2% | 11.3% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 20.6% | 12.8% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Its public schools are run by the Port Byron Central School District. Its two schools are below. The largest public high school is Port Byron Senior High School, with 345 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A A Gates Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 447 | C− |
| Port Byron Senior High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 345 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NY on state tests and graduation
Most working residents leave Mentz for work: only 7% work in town. 20% of Mentz residents live below the poverty line, above both the New York town median (9.5%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Mentz’s median household income is $53,000.
| Mentz | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 20% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $53,000 | $82,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 6.5% | 10% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 69% of U.S. communities. Since 1996, 3 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Mentz.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Mentz has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Mentz is 81°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
2.5 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area, at 54 acres.
| Mentz | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.2 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 2.8% | 5.2% | 4.3% |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Erie Canal Heritage Park | 0.4 mi | 13 |
| 2. Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area | — | 54 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Mentz. Close and well known come first.
25 mi Stadium & arenaJMA Wireless Dome
30 mi LakeSeneca Lake
25 mi LakeCayuga Lake
22 mi LakeOnondaga Lake
30 mi MountainCumorah
34 mi State parkTaughannock Falls State ParkJMA Wireless Dome: Jimhoward03, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Seneca Lake: RochesterNY, Public domain · Cayuga Lake: The original uploader was Cornellrockey at English Wikipedia. Later versions we, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Onondaga Lake: R. A. Nonenmacher, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cumorah: Hillcumorahpageantstage.jpg: la salebete derivative work: Eustress (talk), CC BY-SA 2.0 · Taughannock Falls State Park: Michael C. Rygel, CC BY-SA 3.0
2 within 15 miles of the center of Mentz
About 4 of every 100 Mentz residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across New York.
Where Mentz’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Town in New York, United States
Mentz is a town in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The population was 2,114 at the 2020 census. The town is in the central part of the county, 7 miles north of Auburn.The origin of the town's name has never been determined, but it is locally believed that it derived from Mainz, in Germany.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
4 towns share a border with Mentz.
| Town | NY rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mentz | — | — | B− | — | C+ | C− |
| Conquest | — | — | B+ | — | B− | C− |
| Montezuma | — | — | A− | — | C+ | C |
| Brutus | #415 | B− | C+ | — | B | B− |
| Throop | — | — | B− | — | C+ | C+ |
Mentz, Conquest, Montezuma and Throop have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Mentz, Conquest, Montezuma, Brutus and Throop report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Mentz with a neighbor →
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
The typical home is worth about $116,000, 78% below the New York typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.
2 notable people were born here, including Loran L. Lewis and John W. DeGroff.
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