Compare towns
Fairfax vs Jay vs Ripton vs Fletcher
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 most kids (24% under 18).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k 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.
| Measure | Fairfax | Jay | Ripton | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
471Lowest |
508 |
1,196 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
| Jay and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Fletcher 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% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
32.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$105,833±$9k 30% above VT |
| Fairfax and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Fairfax 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 |
— | — | $1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,965 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Fairfax 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994 18 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
32 min 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Fairfax 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Fletcher School District |
| 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.