Compare towns
Braintree vs Cavendish vs Ripton vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sharon has the most kids (21% 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 | Braintree | Cavendish | Ripton | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,242 |
508Lowest |
1,577Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Braintree and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kLowest about the VT average |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Ripton and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Ripton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
— | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Sharon 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 | 18 photos → | 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.