Compare towns
Putney vs Ripton vs Groton 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
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 | Ripton | Groton | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
508Lowest |
967 |
3,767Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
37.4±1.8 13% below VT |
| Ripton and Groton 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% |
13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge and Putney 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Groton 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7 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 |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$72,344±$19kLowest 11% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
$343,000±$38k 8% above VT |
| Ripton and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482 59% below VT |
— | $288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$1,183±$66Highest 4% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
$4,910 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.6%±7.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Cambridge and Putney 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% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
6.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
30 min 29% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Putney 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Cambridge School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 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.