Compare towns
Bennington vs Ripton vs West Windsor vs St. Johnsbury
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
West Windsor has the oldest population (median age 54).
St. Johnsbury has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
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 | West Windsor | St. Johnsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
508Lowest |
1,171 |
7,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+22.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
42.8±3.8Lowest about the VT average |
| West Windsor 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10 VT: 17.9% |
21%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| St. Johnsbury and West Windsor 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% |
25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and West Windsor 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% VT: 43.8% |
59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6 VT: 7% |
5.6%±2.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$108,750±$18k 34% above VT |
$57,738±$9kLowest 29% below VT |
| Ripton and West Windsor 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 |
$393,500±$41k 24% above VT |
$177,700±$17kLowest 44% below VT |
| Ripton and West Windsor 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 |
— | $1,100±$217 11% below VT |
$914±$44Lowest 26% below VT |
| Bennington and West Windsor 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,860Highest 16% above VT |
$3,916Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48%±11 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% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1944Lowest 32 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
20 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| St. Johnsbury 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 | — | — | #60 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | — |
| 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.