Compare towns

Bennington vs Ripton vs Salisbury

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 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.

MeasureBenningtonRiptonSalisbury
People
Population
1,588Highest
508Lowest
1,200
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.1±7.8Lowest
8% above U.S.
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
50.6±6.5Highest
30% above U.S.
Salisbury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
15.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.4%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
33.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$83,875±$7kLowest
4% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$99,688±$21k
23% above U.S.
Ripton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$267,300±$15kLowest
20% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$306,900±$51k
8% below U.S.
Ripton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,292±$150Lowest
9% below U.S.
—
$1,443±$984Highest
about the U.S. average
Salisbury and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,944Highest
91% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$4,842Lowest
55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.2%±20.6
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.9%±22.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
40% above U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
Work from home
14.7%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Contoocook Valley School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.