Compare towns
Fairfax vs Cornwall vs Ripton vs Underhill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfax has the highest household income ($129k).
Cornwall has the oldest population (median age 50.4).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
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 | Fairfax | Cornwall | Ripton | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
1,208 |
508Lowest |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
| Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$114,583±$32k 41% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$92,267±$54kLowest 14% above VT |
| Fairfax and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,200±$22kLowest 19% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$446,000±$24k 41% above VT |
| Cornwall and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
— | — |
| Cornwall and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497 9% above VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$6,697 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Cornwall 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 | #36 of 70 in VT | — | — | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.