Compare towns
Bennington vs Peru 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 the most kids (15.8% under 18).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Peru | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,245Highest |
434Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±3 3% above VT |
45.3±8.6Highest 5% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Peru 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Barre 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% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Peru 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% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Barre 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 |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Peru and Barre 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 |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$57 10% below VT |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
| Peru and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,331Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70.4%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 11.4% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 22 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Peru 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | — | — | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
| 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.