Compare towns
Bennington vs Exeter vs Windsor vs Rutland
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 youngest population (median age 44.7).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Windsor has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Rutland has the most affordable homes ($186k median).
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 | Exeter | Windsor | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249 |
16,151Highest |
3,554Lowest |
15,712 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
49±2.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Rutland and Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Bennington 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 26% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$57,675±$8k 29% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$207,500±$31k 38% below U.S. |
$185,500±$16kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,026±$89 27% below U.S. |
$995±$65Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,209 67% above U.S. |
$4,657 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±8.2 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
16 minLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Bennington 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | #51 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Rutland City School District |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Exeter High School | — | Rutland Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 12 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.