Compare towns
Sutton vs Ripton vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most kids (17.3% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
West Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
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 | Sutton | Ripton | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 790Highest |
508Lowest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.3±7.6Highest 17% above VT |
| West Fairlee and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Sutton and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,113±$171 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.