Compare towns

Bennington vs Derby 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 most people working from home (15.1%).
Derby has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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.

MeasureBenningtonDerbyRutland
People
Population
15,249
4,537Lowest
15,712Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%
VT: +2.8%
-0.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.7±2.3Lowest
4% above VT
51.6±2.1Highest
20% above VT
49±2.1
14% above VT
Derby and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.7%±2.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.7%±3.6
VT: 17.9%
15.5%±2.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Bennington and Derby 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%
27.2%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
26.2%±3.1
VT: 21.4%
Derby 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%Highest
VT: 43.8%
36.8%
VT: 43.8%
33.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.1
VT: 7%
2.2%±0.8Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$59,446±$7k
27% below VT
$80,250±$8kHighest
about the VT average
$57,675±$8kLowest
29% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$213,300±$15k
33% below VT
$225,000±$10kHighest
29% below VT
$185,500±$16kLowest
41% below VT
Derby and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,133±$63Highest
8% below VT
$1,096±$118
11% below VT
$995±$65Lowest
19% below VT
Bennington and Derby 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
$3,449Lowest
32% below VT
$4,657Highest
8% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.8%±14.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
45.8%±18.5Lowest
VT: 48.4%
51.6%±8.2
VT: 48.4%
Bennington and Rutland 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%
7.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
15.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%
VT: 73.2%
84.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
54.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
15 yrs older than VT
1978Highest
2 yrs newer than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 min
27% below VT
32 minHighest
38% above VT
16 minLowest
32% below VT
Work from home
15.1%±4.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
10.6%±3.5
VT: 16.9%
8.1%±2.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Bennington and Derby 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 70 in VT #51 of 70 in VT
School district Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District Rutland City School District
High school in town Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School 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

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.