Compare towns
Bennington vs Enosburgh vs Sheldon 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 most people working from home (15.1%).
Enosburgh has the youngest population (median age 40.6).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
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 | Enosburgh | Sheldon | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
2,804 |
2,267Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
| Bennington and Barre 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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Barre 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% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Enosburgh 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 |
$63,828±$17k 21% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Sheldon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$223,100±$39k 30% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
| Sheldon and Enosburgh 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 |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Enosburgh 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% |
13.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
75.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington and Sheldon 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 | #26 of 70 in VT | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— | 10.7 |
| 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.