Compare towns
Townshend vs Chester vs Ripton vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Chester has the most kids (14.1% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Fairlee has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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 | Townshend | Chester | Ripton | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538 |
2,992Highest |
508Lowest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Chester and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest 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+ | 52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Ripton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Ripton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
— | $1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364 6% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Ripton 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1Lowest |
8.7Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.