Compare towns
Bennington vs Berlin vs Gorham
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 people working from home (15.1%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
Gorham has the oldest population (median age 53.9).
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 | Berlin | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
9,383 |
2,682Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
44.6±2.8Lowest 15% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Bennington 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. |
$45,180±$5kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$61,275±$7kHighest 24% below U.S. |
| Gorham 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. |
$131,000±$15kLowest 61% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49k 51% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Gorham 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. |
$815±$141Lowest 42% below U.S. |
$838±$83 41% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,437Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,334 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 min 29% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.5%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #58 of 70 in VT | #108 of 120 in NH | #57 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Berlin School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Berlin Senior High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
8.2Lowest |
9.0 |
| 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.