Compare towns
Randolph vs Ripton vs Mendon vs Cambridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Randolph | Ripton | Mendon | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
508Lowest |
1,113 |
3,767 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+4.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
37.4±1.8Lowest 13% below VT |
| Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
50.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$72,344±$19kLowest 11% below VT |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$343,000±$38k 8% above VT |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173Lowest 5% below VT |
— | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,183±$66 4% below VT |
| Mendon and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,910 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
66.6%±7.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | — | — | #25 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Cambridge School District |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.