Compare towns
West Fairlee vs Wardsboro vs Ripton
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).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Wardsboro | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 711 |
820Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% 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 | 13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest 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+ | 29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest 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% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above 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 | $5,210Highest 3% above VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 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 | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.