Compare towns
Northfield vs Ripton vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Northfield | Ripton | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
508Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Ripton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Highest 18% below VT |
— | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Northfield and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 3% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Northfield 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.