Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Ripton vs Whitingham vs West Haven
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 the most people working from home (17.2%).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
West Haven has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724Highest |
508 |
1,368 |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
54±10.5Highest 25% above VT |
| West Haven and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham and Fair Haven 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% |
29.9%±4.7 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$85,250±$29k 5% above VT |
| Ripton and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Highest 33% below VT |
— | $673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
— |
| Fair Haven and Whitingham 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$4,485 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
25 min 8% 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% |
10.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and West Haven 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 | — |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.