Compare towns
West Fairlee vs Ripton vs Cavendish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Cavendish has the most kids (18.3% 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 | West Fairlee | Ripton | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 711 |
508Lowest |
1,242Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.6Highest 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
| West Fairlee and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above 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 | $237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
— | $1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,210Highest 3% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Highest 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | 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 Our Story | 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.