Compare towns
Fairlee vs Ripton vs Strafford vs Orford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Orford has the most renters (24.5% rent).
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 | Strafford | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
508Lowest |
1,372Highest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Strafford 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 23% below U.S. |
— | $1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,263±$686Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Orford and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617 80% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.