Compare towns
Ripton vs Sandgate vs West 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 most expensive homes ($394k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
West Fairlee has the most kids (13.5% 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 | Sandgate | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508 |
435Lowest |
711Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Sandgate and West Fairlee 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% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| West Fairlee and Sandgate 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% |
26%±11.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and West 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% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,113±$171 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and West Fairlee 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% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate 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 |
| 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.