Compare towns
Benson vs Ripton vs Williston 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 oldest population (median age 51.9).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
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 | Williston | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
508Lowest |
10,144Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Waterville 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%±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% |
54.9%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% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Ripton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Williston and Ripton 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 |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 18% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None 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.