Compare towns
Rochester vs Ripton vs Cavendish vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Cavendish has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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 | Rochester | Ripton | Cavendish | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389Highest |
508Lowest |
1,242 |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
| Fairlee and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% 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 | $253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
— | $1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
| Fairlee and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977 21% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.