Compare towns
Ripton vs Cavendish vs Plainfield vs Middletown Springs
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% 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 | Ripton | Cavendish | Plainfield | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,242 |
1,314Highest |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
| Middletown Springs and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Middletown Springs 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% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$82,000±$12k 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 | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$262,200±$24kLowest 17% below VT |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,208±$438Highest about the VT average |
| Middletown Springs and Plainfield 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,595 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5Lowest 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 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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 | 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.