Compare towns
Bennington vs Jay vs Old 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 renters (45.3% rent).
Jay has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Old Bennington has the highest household income ($169k).
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 | Old Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,245Highest |
471 |
182Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±3Lowest 3% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
45±21.3 4% above VT |
| Jay and Old 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% |
22.5%±12Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Old Bennington and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.8%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Old 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% VT: 43.8% |
84.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0%±7.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Jay 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±$25k 8% below VT |
$168,750±$53kHighest 108% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,700±$28kLowest 39% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$445,500±$105kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$57Highest 10% below VT |
— | $1,063±$1kLowest 14% below VT |
| Bennington and Old 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 |
$8,690Highest 72% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70.4%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 22 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
46.7%±3.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #58 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.