Compare towns
Newfane vs Sandgate 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
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Fairlee has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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 | Sandgate | Ripton | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456Highest |
435Lowest |
508 |
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 |
55.7±5.4 29% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
| Fairlee and Sandgate 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% |
13.1%±7.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sandgate and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Lowest 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% |
37.8%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%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
— | — | $1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
| Newfane and Fairlee 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 |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Newfane 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.