Compare towns
Waterville vs Ripton vs Sutton vs Benson
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 most kids (20.4% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 46.6).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Sutton | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680 |
508Lowest |
790Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above 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%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 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% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
— | — | $1,113±$170Highest 10% 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 | $3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest 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% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 26% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.