Compare towns
Bennington vs Berlin vs Cornwall vs Rutland
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 youngest population (median age 44.7).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Rutland has the most affordable homes ($186k 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.
| Measure | Bennington | Berlin | Cornwall | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249 |
2,880 |
1,208Lowest |
15,712Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Lowest 4% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
49±2.1 14% above VT |
| Berlin and Cornwall 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% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cornwall and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
26.2%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Rutland 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% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Berlin 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 27% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$57,675±$8kLowest 29% below VT |
| Cornwall and Berlin 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 |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$185,500±$16kLowest 41% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$995±$65Lowest 19% below VT |
| Berlin and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 10% below VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$4,657 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±8.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 27% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
16 minLowest 32% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Bennington 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — | #51 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rutland City School District |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town | Rutland Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | — | 12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.