Compare towns
Fairlee vs Panton vs Ripton vs West 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 oldest population (median age 56.2).
Panton has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Panton | Ripton | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066Highest |
690 |
508Lowest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
42.7±3.8Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Fairlee and West 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% |
24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7 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% |
35.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$86,667±$10k 7% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
| Panton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT |
— | $1,113±$171 10% below VT |
| Panton and West 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 |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
61%±39 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Panton 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% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Panton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| 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.