Compare towns
Appleton vs Barre vs Bennington vs Liberty
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Liberty has the most kids (19.4% 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 | Appleton | Barre | Bennington | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
8,412 |
15,249Highest |
969Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6 8% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
40.5±6.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Liberty and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$65,625±$7k 19% below U.S. |
$59,446±$7k 26% below U.S. |
$71,146±$15kHighest 12% below U.S. |
| Liberty and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
$229,600±$31k 31% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,093±$58 23% below U.S. |
$1,133±$63Highest 20% below U.S. |
$559±$193Lowest 60% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$5,192Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,513 45% above U.S. |
$2,434Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bennington and Liberty 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.