Compare towns

Bennington vs Barre vs Bennington

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bennington has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Barre has the highest household income ($66k).
Bennington has the most people working from home (15.1%).

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.

MeasureBenningtonBarreBennington
People
Population
9,245
8,412Lowest
15,249Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
VT: +2.8%
-6.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-2.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.5±3
3% above VT
42.2±6.6Lowest
about the VT average
44.7±2.3Highest
4% above VT
Bennington and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.8%±3
VT: 17.9%
13.5%±3.8Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.7%±2.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
Bennington and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.9%±3.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.4%±3.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.2%±2.8
VT: 21.4%
Bennington and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
36.1%
VT: 43.8%
36.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±2.4
VT: 7%
3.4%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
5.8%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
Bennington and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$54,257±$12kLowest
33% below VT
$65,625±$7kHighest
19% below VT
$59,446±$7k
27% below VT
Barre and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$191,700±$28kLowest
39% below VT
$210,400±$15k
34% below VT
$213,300±$15kHighest
33% below VT
Bennington and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,115±$57
10% below VT
$1,093±$58Lowest
11% below VT
$1,133±$63Highest
8% below VT
Bennington and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,331Lowest
14% below VT
$5,192Highest
3% above VT
$4,513
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
70.4%±17.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
34.4%±10.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
68.8%±14.1
VT: 48.4%
Bennington and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
17.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
13.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
54.7%
VT: 73.2%
50.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
58.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1954
22 yrs older than VT
1947Lowest
29 yrs older than VT
1961Highest
15 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 min
27% below VT
19 minHighest
21% below VT
17 minLowest
27% below VT
Work from home
12.6%±5.8
VT: 16.9%
10.5%±4.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
15.1%±4.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
Bennington and 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 #58 of 70 in VT #19 of 70 in VT #58 of 70 in VT
School district — Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
High school in town — Spaulding Union High School Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7Lowest
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.