Compare towns

Cornwall vs Benson vs Ripton vs Chittenden

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

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.

MeasureCornwallBensonRiptonChittenden
People
Population
1,208
784
508Lowest
1,318Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
-7.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-1.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.4±4.6
17% above VT
51.9±9.4Highest
20% above VT
47.7±14.2Lowest
11% above VT
50.8±6.3
18% above VT
Benson and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.7%±3Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.5%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
13.8%±2.5
VT: 17.9%
Cornwall and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.7%±6.1
VT: 21.4%
26.9%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.8%±4Lowest
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+
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
51.5%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.1Lowest
VT: 7%
7%±5.8
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
3.8%±1.6
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$114,583±$32kHighest
41% above VT
$78,625±$8kLowest
3% below VT
$112,917±$15k
39% above VT
$106,250±$28k
31% above VT
Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$458,000±$49kHighest
45% above VT
$242,000±$26kLowest
24% below VT
$394,400±$61k
25% above VT
$346,800±$35k
10% above VT
Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$206Highest
9% below VT
$1,113±$170Lowest
10% below VT
—
$1,125±$488Highest
9% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,726Highest
33% above VT
$4,125Lowest
18% below VT
$4,915
about the VT average
$5,346
6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±65.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
53.4%±35.2
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
14.8%±55.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Cornwall and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
0.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
5.4%
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
93.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
same as VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
32 minHighest
35% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
28 min
21% above VT
Work from home
24.4%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
18.6%±5.4
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
15%±3.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Cornwall and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Barstow Unified Union School District #49
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.