Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Plainfield vs Ripton vs Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Fair Haven | Plainfield | Ripton | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724Highest |
1,314 |
508Lowest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
| Ripton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
— | $1,023±$214 17% below VT |
| Plainfield and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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 | — | — | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.