Compare towns
Calais vs Cavendish vs Reading vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Calais | Cavendish | Reading | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
1,242 |
699 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
— |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.