Compare towns
Fairfax vs Jay 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).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
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 | Jay | Ripton | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
471Lowest |
508 |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±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% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Underhill 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% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 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 |
$92,267±$54k 14% 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±$61k 25% above VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| Underhill and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131 12% below VT |
— | — | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497 9% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Lowest 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 |
1979 3 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 |
33 min 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 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 | — | — | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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.