Compare towns
Ripton vs Putney 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Putney has the most kids (15.4% under 18).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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 | Putney | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
| 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% |
15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Ripton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
| Fairlee and Putney 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 minHighest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| 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.