Compare towns
Danby vs Fairlee vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the youngest population (median age 52.6).
Fairlee has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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 | Danby | Fairlee | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133Highest |
1,066Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Lowest 22% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
| Fairlee and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41kLowest 14% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
| Mendon and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.