Compare towns
Bennington vs Dummerston vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
Dummerston has the most expensive homes ($335k median).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Dummerston | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
2,090 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Dummerston 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.