Compare towns
Fayston vs Ripton vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fayston has the most kids (19.3% under 18).
Ripton has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Waitsfield has the most renters (66.2% 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 | Fayston | Ripton | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,342Highest |
508 |
193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 46.9±3.5Lowest 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
74.8±13.4Highest 74% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
0%±14.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fayston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
71.5%±17.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.9% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
71.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±9.1 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,250±$28k 36% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$26,384±$5kLowest 68% below VT |
| Ripton and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $502,400±$82kHighest 59% above VT |
$394,400±$61kLowest 25% above VT |
$453,100±$98k 43% above VT |
| Fayston and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$274 34% above VT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,689Highest 33% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,688Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±27.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.1%±49.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
33.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 25% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
14 minLowest 40% below VT |
| Work from home | 26.2%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31%±23.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 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.