Compare towns
Bennington vs Dummerston vs Exeter vs Newfields
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).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Dummerston | Exeter | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249 |
2,090 |
16,151Highest |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Dummerston 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% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bennington and Exeter 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% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter 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. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Exeter 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Newfields 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.