Compare towns
Benson vs Ripton vs Wardsboro
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%).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% 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 | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
508Lowest |
820Highest |
| 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±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Benson and Wardsboro 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% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wardsboro 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Wardsboro 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 |
— | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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.