Compare towns
Ripton vs Worcester 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).
Worcester has the most kids (12.8% 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 | Worcester | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508 |
831Highest |
54Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
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% |
12.8%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
0%±52.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Worcester 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
0%±26.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$277,500±$28k 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,057±$620Highest 14% below VT |
| Fairlee and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,750Lowest 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
50%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
57.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
— |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.5%±30.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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.