Compare towns

Fairlee vs Ripton vs Hancock

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).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Hancock has the most kids (17.2% 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.

MeasureFairleeRiptonHancock
People
Population
1,066Highest
508
435Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
56.2±8.7Highest
30% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
33.8±11.6Lowest
22% below VT
Fairlee and Ripton 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%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.2%±5.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
Hancock 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%
30.5%±7.1
VT: 21.4%
19.8%±3.6Lowest
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%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
34.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.7
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,760±$10kLowest
8% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$76,250±$34k
6% below VT
Ripton and Hancock 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
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$187,900±$11kLowest
41% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,083±$242Highest
12% below VT
—
$939±$19Lowest
24% below VT
Fairlee and Hancock 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
$4,915
about the VT average
$3,511Lowest
30% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
89.2%±71.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
3.5%±16.9Lowest
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%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
5.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
59.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1973Highest
3 yrs older than VT
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
3% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
28 minHighest
17% above VT
Work from home
15%±7.9
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.7%±5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Ripton 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 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.