Compare towns
Grafton vs Ripton vs Whiting vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Grafton | Ripton | Whiting | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666 |
508Lowest |
532 |
1,066Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
| Grafton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% 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 | $343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Ripton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
— | $1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
| Grafton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843 4% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,227Lowest 16% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 4% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Athens Grafton School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None 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.