Compare towns
Fairlee vs Ripton vs Plainfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% 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 | Ripton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066 |
508Lowest |
1,314Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Fairlee and Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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 |
— | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Fairlee 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 |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Plainfield 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 3% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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.