Compare towns
Troy vs Ripton vs Fairfield vs Orwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Troy has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Troy | Ripton | Fairfield | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749 |
508Lowest |
1,938Highest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
| Ripton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Ripton and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
— | $1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
| Orwell and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,644Lowest 28% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Troy School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.