Compare towns
Bennington vs Chester vs St. Johnsbury
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 the shortest commute (17 min average).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
St. Johnsbury has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | St. Johnsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,245Highest |
2,992Lowest |
7,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±3 3% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
42.8±3.8Lowest 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%±3 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| St. Johnsbury and Bennington 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% |
21.1%±3.6Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.6%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
| St. Johnsbury and Chester 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±$8kHighest 23% below VT |
$57,738±$9k 29% below VT |
| Chester and St. Johnsbury 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 |
$232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
$177,700±$17kLowest 44% below VT |
| Chester and Bennington 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±$44 22% below VT |
$914±$44Lowest 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,331Highest 14% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$3,916Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70.4%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48%±11 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 22 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1944Lowest 32 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
20 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| St. Johnsbury and Chester 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 | #60 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.