Compare towns
Putney vs Reading vs Ripton vs Cambridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Cambridge has the most kids (23% 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 | Putney | Reading | Ripton | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
699 |
508Lowest |
3,767Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
37.4±1.8 13% below VT |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
50.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$72,344±$19kLowest 11% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$343,000±$38k 8% above VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
— | $1,183±$66Highest 4% below VT |
| Cambridge and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,910Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.6%±7.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Cambridge and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
32 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Ripton 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — | #25 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Cambridge School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.