Compare towns
Fairlee vs Middlesex vs Ripton vs Orford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 63.5).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Fairlee | Middlesex | Ripton | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 54Lowest |
1,943Highest |
508 |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 63.5±7.6Highest 63% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 0%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 37%±54.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±26.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $21,071±$13kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,500±$28k 17% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,057±$620Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
— | $1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±55.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 50%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | — | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.5%±30.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.