Compare towns
Bennington vs Chester vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
Bordering BenningtonOld Bennington
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Chester | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,245Highest |
2,992Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±3 3% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Chester and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester 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 |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$65,625±$7kHighest 19% below VT |
| Barre and Chester 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 |
$232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
| Chester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$57Highest 10% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% 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 |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70.4%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 11.4% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 22 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| 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.