Compare towns
Bennington vs Bloomfield vs Newfane vs Barre
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 oldest population (median age 44.5).
Bloomfield has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Newfane has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
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 | Bennington | Bloomfield | Newfane | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,245Highest |
234 |
141Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±3Highest 3% above VT |
41.9±12 about the VT average |
30.8±12Lowest 29% below VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
| Bennington and Barre 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% |
27.4%±14.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.4%±16.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bloomfield and Newfane 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% |
25.2%±8 VT: 21.4% |
16.3%±19.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.5% VT: 43.8% |
32.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
64.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±11.4 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Newfane 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 |
$54,375±$17k 33% below VT |
$85,938±$84kHighest 6% above VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Newfane and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,700±$28k 39% below VT |
$190,600±$63kLowest 40% below VT |
$347,400±$55kHighest 10% above VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$57Highest 10% below VT |
— | $1,083±$331Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
| Bennington and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,331 14% below VT |
$2,800Lowest 44% below VT |
$5,833Highest 16% above VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70.4%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
— | 28.6%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 11.4% VT: 10.1% |
2.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.8% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7% VT: 73.2% |
83.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 22 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1947 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 27% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
12 minLowest 49% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
4.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.1%±14.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 |
| School district | — | — | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | — | — | — | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.7 |
| 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.