Compare towns
Benson vs Addison vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Addison has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Benson | Addison | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
1,175Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
53.1±7.6Highest 23% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
| Addison and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Addison and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.1%±1.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.2% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$106,667±$7k 31% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$362,200±$23k 14% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,831Highest 16% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.9%±62.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.