Compare towns

Fair Haven vs Randolph vs Ripton

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).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

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.

MeasureFair HavenRandolphRipton
People
Population
2,724
4,843Highest
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
-0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
39.2±7.6Lowest
9% below VT
40.4±7.4
6% below VT
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
Ripton and Randolph 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%
17.3%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Fair Haven and Randolph 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%
22.9%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Randolph 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%
40.8%
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±2.9Lowest
VT: 7%
11.2%±2.5
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below VT
$76,758±$6k
5% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$176,500±$14kLowest
44% below VT
$278,700±$38k
12% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$830±$116Lowest
33% below VT
$1,172±$173Highest
5% below VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,865Lowest
23% below VT
$4,698
7% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.9%±20.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
54.1%±17.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
Randolph 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%
7.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
VT: 73.2%
67.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1973Highest
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
31% above VT
21 minLowest
12% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
4.3%±2.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
12.9%±4.7
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and Randolph 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 #55 of 70 in VT —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town Fair Haven Union Middle and High School Randolph Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
9.4Lowest
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Old photos in History 12 photos → 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.