Compare towns
Benson vs Cavendish 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).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Cavendish | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
1,242Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Benson and Ripton 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% |
18.3%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish and Benson 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% |
23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Benson 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% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Cavendish 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 |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
— |
| Benson and Cavendish 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 |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Cavendish 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.