Compare towns

Old Bennington vs Ripton vs Townshend

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 kids (22.5% under 18).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Townshend has the most affordable homes ($287k 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 BenningtonRiptonTownshend
People
Population
182Lowest
508
1,538Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+4.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45±21.3Lowest
4% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
55.6±9.6Highest
29% above VT
Townshend and Ripton 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%
12%±2.6
VT: 17.9%
Old Bennington and Townshend 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%
19.3%±6.6Lowest
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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
52.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±7.8Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
1.4%±0.8
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$168,750±$53kHighest
108% above VT
$112,917±$15k
39% above VT
$78,750±$29kLowest
3% 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
$287,200±$79kLowest
9% 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
—
$1,074±$80Highest
13% below VT
Townshend 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
$4,915Lowest
about the VT average
$5,364
6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
72.5%±23.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
Townshend 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%
8.1%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
82.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
20% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
25 min
6% above VT
Work from home
46.7%±3.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
28%±18.7
VT: 16.9%
Old Bennington and Townshend 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 West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town — None in town Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
8.1
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.