What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fayette has the oldest population (median age 58.8).

Mount Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fayette	Mount Vernon
People
Population	1,383Lowest	1,716Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+4.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	58.8±4.2Highest 31% above ME	47.1±6.2Lowest 5% above ME
Kids under 18	15.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.7%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%
	Mount Vernon and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	37.2%±5.4Highest ME: 22.4%	26.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%	42.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2Highest ME: 5.8%	1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Fayette and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,500±$17kLowest 20% below ME	$74,395±$6kHighest about the ME average
	Mount Vernon and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$257,600±$48kLowest 13% below ME	$264,200±$23kHighest 11% below ME
	Mount Vernon and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$816Highest 14% below ME	$893±$168Lowest 22% below ME
	Fayette and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,160Highest 4% above ME	$2,832Lowest 7% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.8%±43.7Highest ME: 48.4%	26.9%±36.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Fayette and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME	1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 33% above ME	32 minLowest 29% above ME
Work from home	22.1%±7.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	28.3%±11.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Mount Vernon and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Fayette Public Schools	RSU 38
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.