What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Fayette has the oldest population (median age 58.8).

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.

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

Measure	Mount Vernon	Fayette
People
Population	1,716Highest	1,383Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	47.1±6.2Lowest 5% above ME	58.8±4.2Highest 31% above ME
Kids under 18	20.7%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%	15.7%±4.4Lowest 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+	26.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	37.2%±5.4Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	39.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.8%±2Highest 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	$74,395±$6kHighest about the ME average	$59,500±$17kLowest 20% below ME
	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	$264,200±$23kHighest 11% below ME	$257,600±$48kLowest 13% 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	$893±$168Lowest 22% below ME	$983±$816Highest 14% 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	$2,832Lowest 7% below ME	$3,160Highest 4% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.9%±36.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	46.8%±43.7Highest 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	4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 29% above ME	33 minHighest 33% above ME
Work from home	28.3%±11.6Highest ME: 15.9%	22.1%±7.1Lowest 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	RSU 38	Fayette Public Schools
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.