Compare towns
Bennington vs Ripton vs Springfield vs Westminster
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).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% 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 | Ripton | Springfield | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
508 |
9,084 |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
| Ripton and Bennington 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
— | $963±$100 22% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 10% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest 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 | 13.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | Springfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 14.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.