Compare towns
Fairlee vs Dover vs Mendon vs Newfane
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Mendon has the highest household income ($101k).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Fairlee | Dover | Mendon | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
1,466Highest |
1,113 |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
53.4±10.5Lowest 24% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Mendon and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest 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 | $74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
| Mendon and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Mendon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 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 | 14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.