Compare towns
Ripton vs Windham 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 highest household income ($113k).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 63.5).
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 | Windham | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508 |
594Highest |
54Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
63.5±7.6Highest 47% 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%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
0%±52.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Ripton 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% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
37%±54.9Highest 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% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0%±26.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below VT |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$277,500±$28kLowest 12% below VT |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,057±$620 14% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,750Lowest 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
100%±55.5Highest 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
50%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
57.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
— |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.5%±30.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee and Windham 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.