Compare towns
Newfane vs Ripton vs Stratton 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%).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% 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 | Newfane | Ripton | Stratton | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456Highest |
508Lowest |
532 |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
| Newfane and Stratton 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,750Lowest 6% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Ripton 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.