Compare towns
Addison vs Barre vs Bennington vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the oldest population (median age 53.1).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Addison | Barre | Bennington | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,175 |
8,412 |
15,249Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6Highest 23% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Addison and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Addison and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7k 31% above VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23k 14% above VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831Highest 16% above VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
58.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | Spaulding Union High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| 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.