Compare towns
Putney vs Ripton vs Cavendish vs Brookline
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 youngest population (median age 37.2).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k median).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Ripton | Cavendish | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
508Lowest |
1,242 |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Ripton and Cavendish 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest 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±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$80,833±$16k 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 | $300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Ripton and Putney 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 |
— | $1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 min 21% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Cavendish 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.