Compare towns
Swanton vs Ripton vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swanton has the most renters (22.1% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% 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 | Swanton | Ripton | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,820Highest |
508Lowest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,371±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Ripton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$35kLowest 10% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,257±$133Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
| Swanton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,449Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 8.1%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Swanton 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 | #27 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| 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.