Compare towns
Waterville vs Ripton vs Benson vs Johnson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Johnson has the youngest population (median age 30.9).
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 | Waterville | Ripton | Benson | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680 |
508Lowest |
784 |
3,450Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest 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+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
— | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 21% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8 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 | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
32 min 35% above VT |
33 min 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | — | — | — | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None 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.