Compare towns
Cavendish vs Ripton vs Plainfield vs Whitingham
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% 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 | Ripton | Plainfield | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
508Lowest |
1,314 |
1,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% 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%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham 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% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below 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±$40k 10% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below 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±$546 19% below VT |
— | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Whitingham 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest 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 | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.