Compare towns
Benson vs Ripton vs Calais
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
508Lowest |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
— | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Benson 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 |
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.