Compare towns
Ripton vs Benson vs Plainfield vs Middletown Springs
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 people working from home (18.6%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
784 |
1,314Highest |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+6.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Benson and Middletown Springs 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5 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% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$262,200±$24k 17% below VT |
| Ripton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,208±$438Highest about the VT average |
| Middletown Springs and Plainfield 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 |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,595 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Benson 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% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Ripton 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 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None 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.