Compare towns
Newfane vs Panton vs Ripton vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Panton has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Newfane | Panton | Ripton | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456Highest |
690 |
508Lowest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
42.7±3.8Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest 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% VT: 43.8% |
35.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$86,667±$10k 7% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Panton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT |
— | $1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
| Panton and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 about the VT average |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,617 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61%±39 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 13% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| 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 | 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.