Compare towns

Bennington vs Ripton vs Rutland

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 youngest population (median age 44.5).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Rutland has the shortest commute (16 min average).

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.

MeasureBenningtonRiptonRutland
People
Population
9,245
508Lowest
15,712Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.5±3Lowest
3% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
49±2.1Highest
14% above VT
Rutland and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.8%±3Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
15.5%±2.4
VT: 17.9%
Bennington and Rutland 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%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
26.2%±3.1Lowest
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%
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
33.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±2.4
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
2.2%±0.8Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$54,257±$12kLowest
33% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$57,675±$8k
29% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$191,700±$28k
39% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$185,500±$16kLowest
41% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,115±$57Highest
10% below VT
—
$995±$65Lowest
19% below VT
Bennington and Rutland 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
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$4,657
8% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
70.4%±17.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
51.6%±8.2Lowest
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
11.4%
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
15.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
54.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
54.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1954
22 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
24 minHighest
about the VT average
16 minLowest
32% below VT
Work from home
12.6%±5.8
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.1%±2.6Lowest
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 #58 of 70 in VT — #51 of 70 in VT
School district — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Rutland City School District
High school in town — None in town Rutland Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.