Compare towns
Barre vs Bennington vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Barre | Bennington | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005 |
15,249Highest |
4,537Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
44.7±2.3Lowest 4% above VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
| Derby and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
36.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,210±$9kHighest 15% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
| Barre and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13kHighest 11% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$225,000±$10k 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,096±$118Lowest 11% below VT |
| Barre and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,737Highest 6% below VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington and Barre 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 | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.