Compare towns
Cornwall vs Fairlee vs Ripton vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornwall has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Cornwall | Fairlee | Ripton | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,066 |
508Lowest |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Cornwall and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest 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+ | 54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% 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 | $458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% 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 | $1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
— | $1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
| Cornwall and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min 3% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Cornwall 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.