Compare towns
Ripton vs Mount Tabor vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has the youngest population (median age 47.7).
Mount Tabor has the most expensive homes ($421k median).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Mount Tabor | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508 |
304Lowest |
1,066Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairlee and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Fairlee 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% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
— | $74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$420,500±$76kHighest 33% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Mount Tabor and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,233 4% above VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest 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% |
11% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Fairlee 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 |
| High school 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.