Compare towns
Berkshire vs Cornwall vs Ripton vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkshire has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Berkshire | Cornwall | Ripton | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,745 |
1,208 |
508Lowest |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Berkshire and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,406±$21k 12% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $244,600±$26k 23% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
— | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Berkshire and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±52.6 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.6% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 37% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Ripton 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 | — | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.