Compare towns
Benson vs Orwell vs Ripton vs West Haven
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%).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
West Haven has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Orwell | Ripton | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,294Highest |
508 |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
54±10.5Highest 25% above VT |
| West Haven 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% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and West Haven 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% |
24%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and West Haven 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,250±$29k 5% above VT |
| Ripton and West Haven 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 |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
| Ripton and Orwell 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 |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
— | — |
| Benson and Orwell 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 |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,485 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell 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% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 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 |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Ripton 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.