Compare towns
Benson vs Westminster vs Ripton vs Dresden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Westminster | Ripton | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Highest |
497Lowest |
508 |
551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
59±2.8Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Dresden 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 U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$313,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$191,500±$48kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
— | $1,066±$109 25% below U.S. |
| Benson and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,480 44% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,138Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.