Compare towns
Cavendish vs Northfield vs Ripton vs Whitingham
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).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Northfield | Ripton | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
5,920Highest |
508Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Ripton and Whitingham 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%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham 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% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham 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% VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% 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±$40k 10% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,018±$207Highest 18% below VT |
— | $673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Northfield 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 |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Whitingham 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cavendish and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
| 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.