Compare towns

Cavendish vs Danby vs Ripton vs Reading

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).

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.

MeasureCavendishDanbyRiptonReading
People
Population
1,242Highest
1,133
508Lowest
699
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.8%
VT: +2.8%
-2.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.2±5.9Lowest
5% above VT
52.6±4.8Highest
22% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
51.1±7.6
19% above VT
Danby and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.3%±4.8
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.6%±2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±2.6
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3
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+
39.3%
VT: 43.8%
34.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
VT: 7%
2.5%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$89,063±$29k
10% above VT
$77,321±$13kLowest
5% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$85,000±$19k
5% 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
$285,100±$40k
10% below VT
$272,400±$41kLowest
14% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$377,200±$72k
19% above VT
Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,000±$546
19% below VT
$794±$166Lowest
36% below VT
—
$1,100±$331Highest
11% below VT
Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,948Lowest
22% below VT
$4,543
10% below VT
$4,915
about the VT average
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.9%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
41.4%±34.6
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
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
6.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
8.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89.3%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
8 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1969
7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
21% below VT
30 min
26% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
33 minHighest
41% above VT
Work from home
18.5%±6.6
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Green Mountain Unified School District #77 Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 18 photos → 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.