Compare towns
Bennington vs Pawlet 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).
Pawlet has the most homeowners (87.8%).
St. Johnsbury has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
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 | Pawlet | St. Johnsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,245Highest |
1,480Lowest |
7,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±3 3% above VT |
47.9±7.5Highest 11% above VT |
42.8±3.8Lowest about the VT average |
| Pawlet and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| St. Johnsbury and Pawlet 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% |
27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Pawlet 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% |
37.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.6%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
| St. Johnsbury 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 |
$62,273±$14kHighest 23% below VT |
$57,738±$9k 29% below VT |
| Pawlet 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 |
$266,200±$44kHighest 16% below VT |
$177,700±$17kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$57 10% below VT |
$1,153±$215Highest 7% below VT |
$914±$44Lowest 26% below VT |
| Pawlet and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,331Highest 14% below VT |
$3,924 22% below VT |
$3,916Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70.4%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3Lowest 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% |
10%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 22 yrs older than VT |
1964Highest 12 yrs older than VT |
1944Lowest 32 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
20 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet and St. Johnsbury 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 | — | #60 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Mettawee School District #84 | — |
| 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.