Compare towns
Benson vs Morgan vs Ripton vs Shoreham
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).
Morgan has the most people working from home (22.4%).
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 | Morgan | Ripton | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
827 |
508Lowest |
1,269Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-14.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
40.9±6.4Lowest 5% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.8±7.2 20% above VT |
| Benson and Shoreham 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% |
21.5%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Morgan and Shoreham 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% |
27.7%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Morgan 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% |
34% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$91,250±$25k 12% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$93,654±$23k 15% above VT |
| Ripton and Shoreham 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 |
$311,300±$66k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$316,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,112±$64Lowest 10% below VT |
— | $1,306±$335Highest 6% above VT |
| Shoreham and Benson 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 |
$3,426Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,713 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±40.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3 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% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.4%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Morgan 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 | 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.