Compare towns

Bennington vs Barnet vs St. Johnsbury

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 expensive homes ($213k median).
Barnet has the most people working from home (55%).
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.

MeasureBenningtonBarnetSt. Johnsbury
People
Population
15,249Highest
61Lowest
7,368
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.7±2.3
4% above VT
62.2±45.8Highest
44% above VT
42.8±3.8Lowest
about the VT average
Barnet and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.7%±2.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
31.1%±29.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
21%±2.9
VT: 17.9%
Barnet and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.2%±2.8
VT: 21.4%
36.1%±44.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Barnet and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.9%
VT: 43.8%
59.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
0%±23.2Lowest
VT: 7%
5.6%±2.2
VT: 7%
Bennington and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$59,446±$7kHighest
27% below VT
$57,917±$16k
29% below VT
$57,738±$9kLowest
29% below VT
Bennington and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$213,300±$15kHighest
33% below VT
$204,200±$38k
36% below VT
$177,700±$17kLowest
44% below VT
Bennington and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,133±$63Highest
8% below VT
—
$914±$44Lowest
26% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,513Highest
10% below VT
$2,950Lowest
41% below VT
$3,916
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.8%±14.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
—
48%±11Lowest
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
13.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
47.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
16.8%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
100%Highest
VT: 73.2%
59.6%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Highest
15 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1944
32 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
27% below VT
—
20 minHighest
17% below VT
Work from home
15.1%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
55%±29Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.6%±4.8
VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #58 of 70 in VT — #60 of 70 in VT
School district Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 — —
High school in town Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School — —
Students per teacherat that high school
14.7
— —
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.