Compare towns
Benson vs Enosburgh vs Ripton vs Waterville
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 people working from home (18.6%).
Enosburgh has the youngest population (median age 40.6).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k 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 | Benson | Enosburgh | Ripton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
2,804Highest |
508Lowest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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% |
21%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Enosburgh and Waterville 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% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
20.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
— | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$3,624Lowest 28% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest 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% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
32 min 36% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | — | #26 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.