Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Mendon vs Sandgate vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($357k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Fair Haven | Mendon | Sandgate | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724Highest |
1,113 |
435Lowest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
| Sandgate and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
| Mendon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$193,800±$31k 39% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Mendon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
— | $891±$266 28% below VT |
| Mendon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865 23% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,384 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1959 17 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.