Compare towns
Cavendish vs Dover vs Ripton vs Townshend
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%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Ripton | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
1,466 |
508Lowest |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Dover 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% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% 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 | $285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below 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 |
— | $1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
| Townshend 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend 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% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Dover 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.