Compare towns
Castleton vs Ripton vs Cavendish vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Cavendish has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
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 | Castleton | Ripton | Cavendish | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
508Lowest |
1,242 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Ripton and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 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 | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below 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 | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— | $1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Cavendish 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 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.