Compare towns
Fairfield vs Ripton vs Plainfield vs Swanton
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Swanton has the most affordable homes ($285k median).
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 | Ripton | Plainfield | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
508Lowest |
1,314 |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Swanton 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$81,371±$14k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Fairfield 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$285,100±$35kLowest 10% below 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 |
— | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,257±$133Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 4% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,449Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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 | — | — | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| 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 | 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.