Compare towns
Windsor vs Ripton vs Reading vs North Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
North Bennington has the shortest commute (18 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 | Windsor | Ripton | Reading | North Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,060Highest |
508Lowest |
699 |
1,336 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3 3% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
43.9±10Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±8.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±8 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| North Bennington and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
41.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
| North Bennington and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,197±$4kLowest 37% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$68,571±$10k 16% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,300±$22kLowest 46% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$313,000±$40k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,002±$107Lowest 19% below VT |
— | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT |
| North Bennington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Lowest 3% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,590 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.7%±26.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
61.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1957 19 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and North Bennington 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school 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.