Compare towns
Cavendish vs Putney vs Ripton vs Sharon
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 people working from home (18.5%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sharon has the most kids (21% 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 | Putney | Ripton | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
2,622Highest |
508Lowest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Sharon 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Sharon 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton 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 |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Ripton and Sharon 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 21% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Sharon School District |
| 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.