Compare towns
Bennington vs Augusta vs Barre
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 the most homeowners (58.4%).
Augusta has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).
Barre has the highest household income ($66k).
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 | Augusta | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249 |
19,077Highest |
8,412Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Bennington and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bennington and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7k 26% below U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$65,625±$7kHighest 19% below U.S. |
| Barre and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15kHighest 36% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$210,400±$15k 37% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 20% below U.S. |
$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,093±$58 23% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 45% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$5,192Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 29% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #58 of 70 in VT | #119 of 133 in ME | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Cony | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
17.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.