Compare towns
Benson vs Chester vs Ripton vs Windham
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 oldest population (median age 51.9).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Chester | Ripton | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
2,992Highest |
508Lowest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Benson and Chester 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% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham 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% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Chester 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% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
— | — |
| Benson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Benson 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| 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 | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.