Compare towns
Bennington vs Jay vs Ripton vs Bennington
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).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Bennington has the most kids (17.7% 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 | Jay | Ripton | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,245 |
471Lowest |
508 |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±3Lowest 3% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
| Jay and Ripton 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Bennington 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% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,257±$12kLowest 33% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
| Ripton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,700±$28kLowest 39% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$57Lowest 10% below VT |
— | — | $1,133±$63Highest 8% 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 | $4,331 14% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,513 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70.4%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 22 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 27% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 |
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School |
| 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.