Compare towns
Fairlee vs Mendon vs Newfane vs Wright
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Wright has the most kids (16.7% 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 | Fairlee | Mendon | Newfane | Wright |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
1,113 |
1,456 |
1,739Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9 40% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wright and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 7% below U.S. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$86,250±$13k 7% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$242,000±$36kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,266±$238Highest 10% below U.S. |
$953±$79Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| 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 80% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$5,174Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$5,279 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.6%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.