Compare towns
Ripton vs Sutton 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%).
Sutton has the most kids (17.3% 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 | Sutton | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
790 |
1,066Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above 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% |
17.3%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sutton 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% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest 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% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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.