Compare towns
Fairlee vs Newfane vs Ripton vs Bradford
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 renters (19.1% rent).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Bradford has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
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 | Newfane | Ripton | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
1,456 |
508Lowest |
2,827Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42.7±3.1Lowest about the VT average |
| Fairlee and Newfane 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% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
20.1%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bradford and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±5.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$108,162±$15k 33% above VT |
| Ripton and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$258,600±$30kLowest 18% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,221±$808 about the VT average |
| Newfane and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,472Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
27.9%±23.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Ripton 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 | — | — | — | #45 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Oxbow Unified Union School District #91 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Oxbow Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.