Compare towns

Fair Haven vs Ripton vs Sutton

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).
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 HavenRiptonSutton
People
Population
2,724Highest
508Lowest
790
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-11.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
39.2±7.6Lowest
9% below VT
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
46.6±5.7
8% above VT
Ripton and Sutton 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%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.3%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
Fair Haven and Sutton 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%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±2.7
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Sutton 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%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.8%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±2.9
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$71,250±$18k
12% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$176,500±$14kLowest
44% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$231,100±$41k
27% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$830±$116
33% below VT
— —
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,865Lowest
23% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$3,975
21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.9%±20.9
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
37.8%±31.1Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Fair Haven 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%
8.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 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 minLowest
about the VT average
30 min
26% above VT
Work from home
4.3%±2.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.6%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and Sutton 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 — —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
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

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.