Compare towns
Fairlee vs Mendon vs Whiting vs Rochester
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 oldest population (median age 56.2).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($357k median).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Mendon | Whiting | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
1,113 |
532Lowest |
1,389Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
53.3±7.6 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 | 12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting 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 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Fairlee 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 |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
| Mendon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Mendon and Whiting 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 |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Mendon and Whiting 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 |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester 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 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.