Compare towns
Mendon vs Windham vs Fairlee vs North Hero
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
North Hero has the most expensive homes ($451k 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 | Windham | Fairlee | North Hero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
594Lowest |
1,066 |
1,263Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
54.2±6.7 26% above VT |
| Fairlee and North Hero 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% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and North Hero 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% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
5.5%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| North Hero and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$102,143±$24kHighest 26% above VT |
| North Hero and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$451,400±$66kHighest 43% above VT |
| North Hero and Mendon 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 |
— | $1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,556±$360Highest 26% above VT |
| North Hero 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$5,132Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±98.1 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.4%±8.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | Champlain Islands Unified Union School District #66 |
| High school 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.