Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Ripton vs Cavendish vs Stratton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Stratton has the most kids (28% 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 | Wardsboro | Ripton | Cavendish | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 820 |
508Lowest |
1,242Highest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
— | $1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
| Wardsboro and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345 14% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Ripton 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% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.