Compare towns
Ripton vs Jay vs Fairlee vs Middletown Springs
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%).
Fairlee has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% 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 | Fairlee | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508 |
471Lowest |
1,066Highest |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Fairlee and Jay 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% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5 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% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$262,200±$24k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,208±$438Highest about the VT average |
| Middletown Springs 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,595 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.