Compare towns
Bradford vs Fairlee vs Ripton vs Wallingford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bradford has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Wallingford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | Bradford | Fairlee | Ripton | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,827Highest |
1,066 |
508Lowest |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.7±3.1Lowest about the VT average |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Fairlee and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Bradford and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±5.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 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+ | 36.2% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,162±$15k 33% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,600±$30kLowest 18% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$808Highest about the VT average |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
— | $891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Bradford and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,472 11% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,355Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.9%±23.4 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest 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 | 2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Fairlee 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 | #45 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Oxbow Unified Union School District #91 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | Oxbow Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | — | — |
| 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.