Compare towns
Ripton vs Castleton vs West Fairlee
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%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
West Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
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 | Ripton | Castleton | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
4,453Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.3±7.6Highest 17% above VT |
| West Fairlee and Ripton 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% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and West Fairlee 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and West Fairlee 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
| Castleton and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ripton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Castleton 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 |
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.