Compare towns
Fairlee vs Ripton vs Putney
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%).
Putney has the most kids (15.4% 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 | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066 |
508Lowest |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% 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% |
15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
— | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Fairlee and Putney 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 |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Putney 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 3% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Putney 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.