Compare towns
Ripton vs Cavendish vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Cavendish has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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 | Ripton | Cavendish | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,242Highest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$76,111±$7kLowest 6% below VT |
| Ripton and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
| Ripton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
| Grafton and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
24 minHighest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cavendish and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.