Compare towns
Cavendish vs Mendon vs Panton 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 affordable homes ($285k median).
Mendon has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Panton has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Mendon | Panton | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242Highest |
1,113 |
690 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
42.7±3.8Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Panton and Cavendish 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%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Mendon 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% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$86,667±$10kLowest 7% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Mendon 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 |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Panton and Ripton 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 |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT |
— |
| Panton and Mendon 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 |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
61%±39 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Panton 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 21% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Panton and Mendon 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 | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school 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.