Compare towns

Bennington vs Dover vs Windham

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 affordable homes ($213k median).
Dover has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).

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.

MeasureBenningtonDoverWindham
People
Population
15,249Highest
1,466
594Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
44.7±2.3
4% above VT
53.5±8.3Highest
24% above VT
44.2±7.4Lowest
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%±2.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
Bennington and Windham 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%
23.2%±8.1Lowest
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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Bennington and Dover 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
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$213,300±$15kLowest
33% below VT
$332,900±$55k
5% above VT
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
Windham and Dover 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
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,513
10% below VT
$4,510Lowest
10% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.8%±14.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
Bennington and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
81.1%
VT: 73.2%
82.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
15 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
27% below VT
22 min
6% below VT
27 minHighest
14% above VT
Work from home
15.1%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
Dover and Windham 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 — —
School district Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 River Valleys Unified School District #73 —
High school in town Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
14.7
— —
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.