Compare towns
Cavendish vs Dover vs Fairlee vs Ripton
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 most kids (18.3% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Cavendish | Dover | Fairlee | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
1,466Highest |
1,066 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish and Fairlee 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% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% 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 |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Dover 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
— |
| Fairlee 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 |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
24 minHighest 3% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Rivendell Interstate School District | 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 | 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.