Compare towns

Bennington vs Ripton vs Windham vs Worcester

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 the highest household income ($113k).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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.

MeasureBenningtonRiptonWindhamWorcester
People
Population
1,588Highest
508Lowest
594
831
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.1±7.8Lowest
8% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
Ripton and Worcester 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%
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Bennington and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Windham 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
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%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$83,875±$7k
4% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
Ripton and Windham 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.
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$271,100±$27k
19% below U.S.
Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,292±$150Highest
9% below U.S.
— —
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
Bennington and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,944
91% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$4,421Lowest
42% 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%
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Windham 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%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
40% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
29 min
9% above U.S.
Work from home
14.7%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester and Windham 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 — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
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 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.