Compare towns
West Fairlee vs Ripton vs Cavendish vs Wardsboro
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% 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 | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 711 |
508Lowest |
1,242Highest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and West Fairlee 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%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Cavendish 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% |
27.4%±3.1 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% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% 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 | $237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$171 10% below VT |
— | $1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and West Fairlee 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 |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest 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 | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% 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 |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
27 min 14% above 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% |
13.3%±5.1 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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.