Compare towns
Barton vs Bennington vs Brownington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Brownington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Barton | Bennington | Brownington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,815 |
15,249Highest |
1,144Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.9±6.5Highest 4% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
40.5±4.5Lowest 6% below VT |
| Barton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brownington and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7% VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
5%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Brownington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,250±$16k 18% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$75,556±$17kHighest 7% below VT |
| Brownington and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,200±$28k 36% below VT |
$213,300±$15kHighest 33% below VT |
$193,800±$40kLowest 39% below VT |
| Bennington and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $793±$70 36% below VT |
$1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$745±$504Lowest 40% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,355Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,513Highest 10% below VT |
$3,912 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.6%±12.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1 VT: 48.4% |
78.5%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brownington and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 50% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington and Barton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | Lake Region Union High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.