Compare towns
Fairlee vs Ripton vs Whiting vs Bridgewater
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 housing (typical home built 1972).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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 | Whiting | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066Highest |
508Lowest |
532 |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Bridgewater 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7 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% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
| Ripton and Whiting 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 |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
— | $1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
| Whiting 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 |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater 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% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 3% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.