Compare towns
Stannard vs Fairlee vs Ripton vs Albany
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Albany has the most kids (20.7% 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 | Stannard | Fairlee | Ripton | Albany |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 228 |
1,066Highest |
508 |
135Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±14.6 12% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42.9±14Lowest about the VT average |
| Fairlee and Stannard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±11.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Albany and Stannard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.9%±8.5 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±19.1Lowest 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+ | 44.8% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±6.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±7.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,979±$30kLowest 18% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
— |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $216,200±$44k 32% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$211,800±$56kLowest 33% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183 17% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$2,867Lowest 43% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 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 | 3.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9%±6.3 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 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.