Compare towns
West Fairlee vs Ripton vs Reading vs Fairlee
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%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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 | Reading | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 711 |
508Lowest |
699 |
1,066Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
| Fairlee and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest 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+ | 44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
— | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,210 3% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| 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.