Compare towns
Fairlee vs Middlesex vs Ripton vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Fairlee has the most renters (42.5% 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 | Fairlee | Middlesex | Ripton | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
1,943Highest |
508 |
54Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
63.5±7.6Highest 47% above VT |
| Fairlee and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
0%±52.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
37%±54.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0%±26.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$277,500±$28k 12% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
— | $1,057±$620Lowest 14% below VT |
| Middlesex and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617 11% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,750Lowest 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
100%±55.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
50%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
57.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
— |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.5%±30.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 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.