Compare towns
Danby vs Ripton vs Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
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 | Danby | Ripton | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133 |
508Lowest |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.7±2.3Lowest 4% above VT |
| Danby and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
— | $1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Bennington 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 | — | — | #58 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
| 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.