Compare towns
West Fairlee vs Windham 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).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Windham | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 711Highest |
594 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.6Highest 17% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| 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% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$171 10% below VT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,210 3% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 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% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham 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 |
| High school 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.