Compare towns
Ripton vs Jay vs Fair Haven
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%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Fair Haven has the most kids (19.4% 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 | Jay | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508 |
471Lowest |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Ripton and Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $830±$116 33% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Fair Haven 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Ripton 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 | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.