Compare towns
Ripton vs Benson vs Cavendish
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%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Benson | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
784 |
1,242Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
| Benson 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% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish and Benson 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% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Lowest 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+ | 48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
| Ripton and Cavendish 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 |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
| Benson and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Cavendish 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 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.