Compare towns

Old Bennington vs Ripton vs Mendon vs Stannard

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Old Bennington has the most people working from home (46.7%).
Ripton has the most renters (9.1% rent).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Stannard has the most affordable homes ($216k 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.

MeasureOld BenningtonRiptonMendonStannard
People
Population
182Lowest
508
1,113Highest
228
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+8.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
45±21.3Lowest
4% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
53.4±10.5Highest
24% above VT
48.3±14.6
12% above VT
Mendon and Stannard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.5%±12Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
13.2%±9.1
VT: 17.9%
Old Bennington and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.8%±8Highest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1
VT: 21.4%
29%±1.3
VT: 21.4%
25.9%±8.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Old Bennington and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
84.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
49.4%
VT: 43.8%
44.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±7.8Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.1
VT: 7%
0%±6.2Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$168,750±$53kHighest
108% above VT
$112,917±$15k
39% above VT
$100,524±$23k
24% above VT
$66,979±$30kLowest
18% below VT
Old Bennington and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$445,500±$105kHighest
41% above VT
$394,400±$61k
25% above VT
$357,000±$44k
13% above VT
$216,200±$44kLowest
32% below VT
Old Bennington and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,063±$1kLowest
14% below VT
—
$1,230±$651Highest
about the VT average
—
Mendon and Old Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,690Highest
72% above VT
$4,915
about the VT average
$5,342
6% above VT
$4,183Lowest
17% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
88.6%±42.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
0%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
3.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.8%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.2%
VT: 73.2%
98.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
20% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
17 minLowest
28% below VT
27 min
16% above VT
Work from home
46.7%±3.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±8.9
VT: 16.9%
8.6%±5.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 — —
High school 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.