Compare towns
Fairlee vs Ripton vs Sharon 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 oldest population (median age 56.2).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
Bradford has the youngest population (median age 42.7).
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 | Sharon | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
508Lowest |
1,577 |
2,827Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
42.7±3.1Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.1%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Bradford 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% |
25.1%±3.6 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
36.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
0.7%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$258,600±$30kLowest 18% below VT |
| Ripton and Sharon 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 |
— | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,221±$808 about the VT average |
| Sharon and Bradford 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$4,472Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27.9%±23.4 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% |
3% VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
25 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Fairlee 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Sharon School District | 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.