Compare towns
Braintree vs Ripton vs Pomfret vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).
Benson has the most kids (16.5% 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 | Braintree | Ripton | Pomfret | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Highest |
508Lowest |
908 |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
53.4±12.1 24% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Braintree and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±6 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.5 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
58%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$84,229±$8k 4% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$399,200±$144kHighest 26% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Pomfret and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
— | $1,170±$98Highest 5% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Pomfret and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,722Highest 33% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
24%±22.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest 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 | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.