Compare towns
Addison vs Fairfax vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Addison | Fairfax | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,175 |
5,226Highest |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6 23% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Addison and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7k 31% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$100,524±$23kLowest 24% above VT |
| Fairfax and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23k 14% above VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$357,000±$44kLowest 13% above VT |
| Fairfax and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
| Addison and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831Highest 16% above VT |
$5,497 9% above VT |
$5,342Lowest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Mendon 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Fairfax School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.