Compare towns
Fairfield vs Ripton vs Sutton vs Wallingford
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%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Wallingford has the most renters (17.5% rent).
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 | Sutton | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
508Lowest |
790 |
2,286Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Sutton 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Wallingford 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% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wallingford 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$80,230±$15k 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 |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% 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±$441Highest 14% below VT |
— | — | $891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Fairfield and Wallingford 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 |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Sutton 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% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
82.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Sutton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None 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.