Compare towns
Bennington vs Berlin vs Proctor vs Sheldon
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 renters (41.6% rent).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Proctor | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
2,880 |
1,794Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest 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±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Berlin and Sheldon 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±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Berlin and Sheldon 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 |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Highest 10% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington and Sheldon 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 | — | — |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.