Compare towns
Bennington vs Berkshire vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Berkshire has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Berkshire | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,745Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
| Bennington and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Barre 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 VT: 43.8% |
22%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$71,406±$21kHighest 12% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Berkshire and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$244,600±$26kHighest 23% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
| Berkshire and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 10% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.4%±52.6 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Berkshire 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% |
14.6% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
77.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
32 minHighest 37% above VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington and Berkshire 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 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.