Compare towns
Ripton vs Fairfax vs Lincoln
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%).
Fairfax has the most kids (24% under 18).
Lincoln has the most affordable homes ($365k 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 | Fairfax | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
5,226Highest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+17% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Lincoln 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% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Lincoln 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% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Lincoln 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% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$96,667±$18kLowest 19% above VT |
| Fairfax and Ripton 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 |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
$365,200±$30kLowest 15% above VT |
| Ripton and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,080±$131Highest 12% below VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,497 9% above VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Lincoln 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Fairfax School District | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.