Compare towns
Bennington vs Ripton vs St. George vs Barre
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
St. George has the most kids (25.6% under 18).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
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 | Ripton | St. George | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,245Highest |
508Lowest |
812 |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+17.8% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±3 3% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
44.7±13.4 4% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and St. George 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.6%±7Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| St. George 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.9%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
53.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.9%±3.9 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,257±$12kLowest 33% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$109,464±$34k 35% above VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Ripton and St. George 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$376,800±$50k 19% above VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
| Ripton and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$57 10% below VT |
— | $1,394±$132Highest 13% above VT |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,331Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,514Highest 9% above VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70.4%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
96%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| St. George 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 22 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
19 min 19% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.6%±8.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| St. George 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 | — | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.7 |
| 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.