Compare towns

Ripton vs Brookline 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

Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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.

MeasureRiptonBrooklineFair Haven
People
Population
508Lowest
531
2,724Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
45.1±2.7
5% above VT
39.2±7.6Lowest
9% below VT
Ripton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
19.4%±5.1
VT: 17.9%
Brookline and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.6%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
18.4%±4.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
41.1%
VT: 43.8%
23.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
3.2%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
4.1%±2.9
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$80,833±$16k
about the VT average
$62,404±$16kLowest
23% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$290,700±$37k
8% below VT
$176,500±$14kLowest
44% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,732±$232Highest
40% above VT
$830±$116Lowest
33% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,915
about the VT average
$5,000Highest
about the VT average
$3,865Lowest
23% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
47.8%±94.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
50.9%±20.9
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
6.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
18.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
80.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1975Highest
1 yr older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
28 min
21% above VT
31 minHighest
31% above VT
Work from home
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
20.6%±5.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
4.3%±2.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Brookline and Ripton 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 — — #66 of 70 in VT
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town None in town — Fair Haven Union Middle and High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 12 photos →

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.