Compare towns
Ripton vs Fairlee vs Reading
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).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% 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 | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,066Highest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Fairlee and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Reading 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% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min 3% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.