Compare towns

Bennington vs Dummerston vs Mendon

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 renters (41.6% rent).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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.

MeasureBenningtonDummerstonMendon
People
Population
15,249Highest
2,090
1,113Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
+8.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.7±2.3Lowest
4% above VT
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
53.4±10.5Highest
24% above VT
Mendon 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
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston 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%
24.3%±3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29%±1.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Mendon 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%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
49.4%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.1
VT: 7%
Bennington and Mendon 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
27% below VT
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
$100,524±$23k
24% above VT
Dummerston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$213,300±$15kLowest
33% below VT
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
$357,000±$44kHighest
13% above VT
Mendon and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,133±$63Lowest
8% below VT
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
$1,230±$651
about the VT average
Dummerston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,513Lowest
10% below VT
$4,536
10% below VT
$5,342Highest
6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.8%±14.1
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
88.6%±42.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Mendon 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
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
92.2%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
15 yrs older than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 min
27% below VT
21 minHighest
11% below VT
17 minLowest
28% below VT
Work from home
15.1%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±8.9
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston and Mendon 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 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 —
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.