Compare towns

Bennington vs Hampton vs Barre

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 kids (17.7% under 18).
Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
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.

MeasureBenningtonHamptonBarre
People
Population
15,249
16,426Highest
8,412Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.7±2.3
15% above U.S.
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
42.2±6.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
13.5%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
Bennington and Barre 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%
30.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Bennington and Barre 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.
$95,233±$9kHighest
18% above U.S.
$65,625±$7k
19% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$213,300±$15k
36% below U.S.
$550,200±$39kHighest
65% above U.S.
$210,400±$15kLowest
37% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,133±$63
20% below U.S.
$1,628±$94Highest
15% above U.S.
$1,093±$58Lowest
23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,513Lowest
45% above U.S.
$6,813Highest
118% above U.S.
$5,192
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.8%±14.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.8%±10.4
U.S.: 51.1%
34.4%±10.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bennington and Hampton 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%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
17.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
19 min
30% below U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
21.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampton 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 #31 of 120 in NH #19 of 70 in VT
School district Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center
High school in town Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School Winnacunnet High School Spaulding Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.7Highest
10.1Lowest
10.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 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.