Compare towns
West Fairlee vs Ripton vs Bradford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Bradford has the most kids (20.1% 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 | West Fairlee | Ripton | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 711 |
508Lowest |
2,827Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.6Highest 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42.7±3.1Lowest about the VT average |
| West Fairlee and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.1%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bradford and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±5.8Lowest 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+ | 44.6% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$108,162±$15k 33% above VT |
| Ripton and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$258,600±$30k 18% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
— | $1,221±$808Highest about the VT average |
| Bradford and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,210Highest 3% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,472Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
27.9%±23.4Lowest 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 | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Bradford 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 | — | — | #45 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Oxbow Unified Union School District #91 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oxbow Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.