Compare towns
Fletcher vs Ripton vs Fairfax vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fletcher has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Fairfax has the most people working from home (26.7%).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
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 | Fletcher | Ripton | Fairfax | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196 |
508Lowest |
5,226Highest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+17% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3Highest 13% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Fletcher and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.3% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,833±$9k 30% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$87,019±$22kLowest 7% above VT |
| Fairfax and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,100±$37kLowest 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
— | $1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,965 about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$4,816Lowest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 37% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Ripton 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 | — | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Fletcher School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Fairfax School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.