Compare towns
Ripton vs Fairlee vs Calais
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%).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Fairlee | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,066 |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest 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% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais 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 |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min 3% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.