Compare towns
Newfane vs Mendon vs Fairlee vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Fairlee has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% 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 | Newfane | Mendon | Fairlee | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
1,113 |
1,066Lowest |
2,090Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
| Dummerston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
| Mendon and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Dummerston and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 about the VT average |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest 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 | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 13% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.