Compare towns
Bennington vs Dover vs Middlesex vs Barre
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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
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 | Dover | Middlesex | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,466Lowest |
1,943 |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Dover and Bennington 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Bennington 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Middlesex 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
| Middlesex and Dover 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Dover 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Dover 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 | — | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | — | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.