Compare towns

Bennington vs Chesterfield vs Guilford

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 affordable homes ($213k median).
Chesterfield has the highest household income ($102k).
Guilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

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.

MeasureBenningtonChesterfieldGuilford
People
Population
15,249Highest
3,622
2,461Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
0%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.7±2.3Lowest
15% above U.S.
46.8±8.7Highest
20% above U.S.
46.7±5.2
20% above U.S.
Chesterfield and Guilford 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%
21.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Chesterfield 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
U.S.: 17.2%
28.8%±7.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.6%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
Chesterfield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.6%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Bennington and Guilford 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
26% below U.S.
$102,370±$40kHighest
27% above U.S.
$75,243±$6k
7% below U.S.
Chesterfield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$213,300±$15kLowest
36% below U.S.
$373,500±$33kHighest
12% above U.S.
$312,600±$39k
6% below U.S.
Chesterfield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,133±$63Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,324±$1kHighest
6% below U.S.
$1,283±$273
9% below U.S.
Chesterfield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,513Lowest
45% above U.S.
$6,344Highest
103% above U.S.
$5,827
87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.8%±14.1
U.S.: 51.1%
83.7%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±19.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Chesterfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
25 minHighest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.9%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Chesterfield and Guilford 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 #52 of 120 in NH —
School district Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 Chesterfield School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
14.7
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.