Compare towns
Bennington vs Jay vs Bennington
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 most affordable homes ($192k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Bennington has the most kids (17.7% 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 | Jay | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,245 |
471Lowest |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±3Lowest 3% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest 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 |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
| Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
| Jay and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$57Lowest 10% 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 | $4,331 14% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,513Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70.4%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 22 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 27% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
| 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.