Compare towns
Hampton vs Mendon vs Northfield vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Fair Haven has the most kids (19.4% 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 | Hampton | Mendon | Northfield | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145 |
1,113Lowest |
5,920Highest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
| Mendon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fair Haven and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Northfield 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | — | Northfield Middle/High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.