Compare towns
Arlington vs Guildhall vs Ripton vs Fairfax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Guildhall has the most homeowners (93.7%).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Fairfax has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Arlington | Guildhall | Ripton | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,598 |
371Lowest |
508 |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+17% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
42.6±7.8 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
| Ripton and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±5.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11kLowest 26% above VT |
$115,000±$46k 42% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fairfax and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59kLowest about the VT average |
$321,200±$62k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
| Ripton and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$850±$717Lowest 31% below VT |
— | $1,080±$131 12% below VT |
| Arlington and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,625 8% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
75%±100 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Fairfax 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 | #50 of 70 in VT | — | — | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Arlington School District | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | — | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
— | — | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.