Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Ripton vs Whitingham vs Richford
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%).
Richford has the most renters (29.6% 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 | Fair Haven | Ripton | Whitingham | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724Highest |
508Lowest |
1,368 |
2,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
39±3.6Lowest 10% below VT |
| Ripton and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Richford and Whitingham 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%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
20.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16k 23% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$176,600±$16k 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116 33% below VT |
— | $673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,160±$66Highest 6% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865 23% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Richford 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
9.1 |
| 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.