Compare towns
Cavendish vs Ripton vs Fairlee vs Baltimore
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 kids (18.3% under 18).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Baltimore has the most affordable homes ($219k 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 | Ripton | Fairlee | Baltimore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242Highest |
508 |
1,066 |
361Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
51.2±10.3 19% above VT |
| Fairlee and Baltimore 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
8.9%±6.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish and Fairlee 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% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
2.2%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$107,500±$16k 32% above VT |
| Ripton and Baltimore 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$219,400±$27kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
— | $1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
— |
| Fairlee 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,329 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.7%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minHighest 3% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±4.4Lowest 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 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.