Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Ripton vs Sutton vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% 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 | Bakersfield | Ripton | Sutton | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109 |
508Lowest |
790 |
1,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Ripton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
— | — | $1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 26% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.