Compare towns
Westminster 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
Westminster has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | Westminster | Fairlee | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,999Highest |
1,066Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
53.4±10.5Lowest 24% above VT |
| Fairlee and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 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+ | 46.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
| Mendon and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5Lowest 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 | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
24 minHighest 3% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.