Compare towns

Cavendish vs Plainfield 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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.

MeasureCavendishPlainfieldRipton
People
Population
1,242
1,314Highest
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.8%
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.2±5.9Lowest
5% above VT
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.3%±4.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Cavendish and Plainfield 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%
21.1%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Cavendish 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%
48.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$89,063±$29k
10% above VT
$69,250±$31kLowest
15% 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±$40kLowest
10% below VT
$318,400±$34k
about the VT average
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
Ripton and Plainfield 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
$1,153±$103Highest
7% below VT
—
Plainfield 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
$4,806
5% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.9%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield 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%
11.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.3%
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
8 yrs older than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1973Highest
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
21% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
24 minHighest
about the VT average
Work from home
18.5%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
Cavendish and Ripton 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

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.