Compare towns
Ripton vs Bennington vs West Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
West Windsor has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Ripton | Bennington | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
15,249Highest |
1,171 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+22.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.7±2.3Lowest 4% above VT |
54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
| West Windsor and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10Highest VT: 17.9% |
| West Windsor and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48% VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$108,750±$18k 34% above VT |
| Ripton and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$393,500±$41k 24% above VT |
| Ripton and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$1,100±$217Lowest 11% below VT |
| Bennington and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,860Highest 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and West Windsor 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| 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.