Compare towns
Bennington vs Plainfield vs Ripton vs Shaftsbury
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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% 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 | Plainfield | Ripton | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,314 |
508Lowest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
43±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8 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+ | 36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
40.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$86,071±$24k 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$267,300±$24k 16% below VT |
| Ripton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
— | $1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT |
| Plainfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 10% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,015Lowest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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 | — | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.