Compare towns
Cavendish vs Ripton vs Townshend vs Weathersfield
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%).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Weathersfield has the most kids (22% 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 | Townshend | Weathersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
508Lowest |
1,538 |
2,856Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
48.3±5.4 12% above VT |
| Townshend and Weathersfield 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% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
22%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Weathersfield 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%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.4%±5.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Weathersfield 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% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
8.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,750±$29kLowest 3% below VT |
$83,095±$12k about the VT average |
| 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 |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$252,700±$50kLowest 20% below VT |
| Ripton and Townshend 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 |
— | $1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$1,401±$61Highest 14% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$4,540 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
80.3%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Weathersfield and Townshend 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.2%±14.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Weathersfield 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 | — | — | — | #21 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Weathersfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.