Compare towns
Cavendish vs Ripton vs Wells vs Lincoln
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%).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Lincoln has the most people working from home (18.8%).
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 | Wells | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
508Lowest |
1,148 |
1,394Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
| Wells and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish and Wells 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% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wells 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% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
| Ripton and Lincoln 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 |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$365,200±$30k 15% above VT |
| Ripton and Lincoln 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 |
— | $1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Wells and Cavendish 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Ripton 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer 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 |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Lincoln 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Lincoln Town School District |
| 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.