Compare towns
Randolph vs Ripton vs Williston vs North Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Williston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
North Bennington has the youngest population (median age 43.9).
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 | Randolph | Ripton | Williston | North Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,007 |
508Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,336 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.5±7.7Highest 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
43.9±10Lowest about the VT average |
| Randolph and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| North 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+ | 42.1% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.3%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
| North Bennington and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,069±$11k 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$68,571±$10kLowest 16% below VT |
| Ripton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,400±$25kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$313,000±$40k about the VT average |
| Williston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,095±$198Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,447±$278 17% above VT |
| Williston and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,507Lowest 11% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,590 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.3%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.7%±26.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
61.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1957 19 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 24% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
20 min 16% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Randolph 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school 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.