Compare towns
Cabot vs Castleton vs Fair Haven vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Cabot | Castleton | Fair Haven | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,579 |
4,453Highest |
2,724 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.3±6.6 6% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.7% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,031±$16k 5% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
— |
| Cabot and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,639 8% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±26.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 27% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 21.4%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Cabot and Ripton 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.