Compare towns
Springfield vs Ripton vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Fair Haven has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
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 | Springfield | Ripton | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
508Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
| Ripton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20k 39% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Highest 22% below VT |
— | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Springfield and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 5% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Springfield 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.