Compare towns
Benson vs Calais vs Ripton vs Chelsea
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).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Chelsea has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Calais | Ripton | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,713Highest |
508Lowest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
| Chelsea 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Ripton and Calais 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 |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
| Ripton and Calais 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 |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
— | $1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 18% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Benson 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.