Compare towns
Cavendish vs Reading vs Ripton vs Strafford
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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% 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 | Reading | Ripton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
699 |
508Lowest |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| Ripton and Strafford 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
— | $1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Cavendish 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford 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.