Compare towns
Cavendish vs Dummerston 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 most affordable homes ($285k median).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Dummerston | Ripton | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
2,090Highest |
508Lowest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% 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 | 18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Reading 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%±3 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
| Ripton and Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above 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±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
— | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Dummerston and Reading 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 |
$4,536 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% |
44.1%±32.2 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Reading 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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.