Compare towns
Cavendish vs Reading vs Ripton vs Williston
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 oldest population (median age 51.1).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
699 |
508Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest 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% |
54.9%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% |
5.7%±2.7 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Ripton and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,592 11% 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% |
46.9%±17.4 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest 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 |
1993Highest 17 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 |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Williston 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 | — | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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.