Compare towns
Benson vs Ripton vs Plainfield 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%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% 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 | Plainfield | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
508Lowest |
1,314Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville 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% |
21.1%±3.5 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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 |
— | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Plainfield 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Benson 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 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 | ||||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.