Compare towns
Bennington vs Berlin vs Epping vs St. Johnsbury
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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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.
| Measure | Bennington | Berlin | Epping | St. Johnsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
2,880Lowest |
7,430 |
7,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
42.8±3.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Epping 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% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
21%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| St. Johnsbury and Epping 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% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$7k 26% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$57,738±$9kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Epping 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 36% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$177,700±$17kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$914±$44Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Epping and Berlin 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. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,916Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±11 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Epping 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% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and St. Johnsbury 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #60 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Epping School District | — |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | Epping High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.