Compare towns
Bennington vs Bennington vs Ripton vs Rockingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Rockingham has the most kids (19.2% 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 | Bennington | Bennington | Ripton | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,245 |
15,249Highest |
508Lowest |
4,807 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±3Lowest 3% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
46.4±2.6 8% above VT |
| Ripton and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±3 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Rockingham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,257±$12kLowest 33% below VT |
$59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,857±$16k 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,700±$28kLowest 39% below VT |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$210,900±$14k 33% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$57 10% below VT |
$1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
— | $1,062±$101Lowest 14% below VT |
| Bennington and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,331Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,887 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70.4%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
58.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 22 yrs older than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 27% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rockingham and Ripton 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT | — | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rockingham School District |
| High school in town | — | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— | — |
| 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.