Compare towns
Fairlee vs Worcester vs Ripton
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).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Worcester | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066Highest |
831 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above 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% |
12.8%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Worcester 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
— |
| Fairlee and Worcester 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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 |
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.