Compare towns
Fairfield vs Fletcher vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Fletcher has the most affordable homes ($302k 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 | Fairfield | Fletcher | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938Highest |
1,196 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
48.7±7.3Highest 13% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Fletcher and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest 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+ | 30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.3% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22kLowest 7% above VT |
$105,833±$9k 30% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$302,100±$37kLowest 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
— |
| Fletcher and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816Lowest 4% below VT |
$4,965Highest about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Fletcher 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
32 minHighest 37% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Fletcher School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.