Compare towns
Barnard vs Fairlee vs Ripton vs Pomfret
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).
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 | Barnard | Fairlee | Ripton | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211Highest |
1,066 |
508Lowest |
908 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
53.4±12.1 24% above VT |
| Fairlee and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
58%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$84,229±$8k 4% above VT |
| Ripton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$399,200±$144k 26% above VT |
| Barnard and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
— | $1,170±$98 5% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$6,722Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
24%±22.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.