Compare towns
Ripton vs Mendon vs Bennington
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%).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($192k 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.
| Measure | Ripton | Mendon | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,113 |
9,245Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
44.5±3Lowest 3% above VT |
| Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Mendon 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% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Mendon 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% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$54,257±$12kLowest 33% below VT |
| Ripton and Mendon 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 |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$191,700±$28kLowest 39% below VT |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,115±$57Lowest 10% below VT |
| Mendon and Bennington 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,331Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
70.4%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Bennington 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% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
54.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1954Lowest 22 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
17 min 27% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Ripton 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.