Compare towns
Dummerston vs Ripton vs Benson vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Dummerston | Ripton | Benson | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
508Lowest |
784 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Benson and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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+ | 58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
— | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Dummerston and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 10% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | — | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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 | 6 photos → |
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.