Compare towns
Wardsboro 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
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
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 | Wardsboro | Ripton | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 820Highest |
508Lowest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Wardsboro and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.1Lowest 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+ | 38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
| Ripton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
— | $1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
| Wardsboro and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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.