Compare towns
Fletcher vs Ripton vs St. George vs Fairfax
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%).
St. George has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fairfax has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | St. George | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196 |
508Lowest |
812 |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+17.8% VT: +2.8% |
+17% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3Highest 13% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.7±13.4 4% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
| 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% |
25.6%±7Highest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| St. George 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% |
15.9%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
53.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.9%±3.9 VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,833±$9kLowest 30% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$109,464±$34k 35% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% 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 |
$376,800±$50k 19% above VT |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
| 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 |
— | $1,394±$132 13% above VT |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
| Fletcher and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,965 about the VT average |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,514Highest 9% above VT |
$5,497 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
96%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
| St. George and Ripton 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% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 37% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.6%±8.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| St. George and Fairfax 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 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| 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.