Compare towns
Ripton vs Dummerston vs 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%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% 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 | Ripton | Dummerston | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
2,090Highest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
| 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Lowest 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+ | 48% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
| Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
| Dummerston and 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 |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest 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 | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
24 minHighest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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.