Compare towns
Cavendish vs Ripton vs Sheldon vs Ludlow
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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Ludlow has the most people working from home (21.3%).
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 | Sheldon | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
508Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
| Ludlow 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% 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 |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
| Ripton and Ludlow 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 |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
| Sheldon and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948 22% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Ludlow 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| 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.