Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Ripton vs Barnard vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Fairlee has the most renters (19.1% 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 | Bridgewater | Ripton | Barnard | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980 |
508Lowest |
1,211Highest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest 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+ | 40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below 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 | $218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Barnard and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
— | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Barnard and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| 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.