Compare towns
Belvidere vs Fairlee vs Ripton vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belvidere has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Waterville has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Belvidere | Fairlee | Ripton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 422Lowest |
1,066Highest |
508 |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Fairlee and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 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+ | 35.9% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$18k about the VT average |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Ripton and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
— | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Belvidere and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±53.8 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school 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.