Compare towns
Mendon vs Brookline vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Mendon | Brookline | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,113Highest |
531Lowest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% 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 | 14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
| Mendon and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Mendon and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
| Brookline and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,342 6% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest 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 | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.