Compare towns
Newfane vs Rupert vs Fairlee vs Mendon
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%).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Fairlee has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Rupert | Fairlee | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456Highest |
676Lowest |
1,066 |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
53.4±10.5Lowest 24% above VT |
| Rupert and Fairlee 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% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Mendon and Rupert 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% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Rupert and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 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 |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Rupert 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 |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
| Rupert and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
| Newfane and Mendon 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 |
$4,594Lowest 9% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7 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% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Mendon 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 | — |
| 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.