Compare towns
Bennington vs Heath vs Shaftsbury
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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
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 | Heath | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
765Lowest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
43±6.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Heath and Bennington 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% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Heath 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. |
$98,750±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$86,071±$24k 7% above U.S. |
| Heath and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$295,000±$45kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$267,300±$24k 20% below U.S. |
| Heath and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 20% below U.S. |
— | $1,079±$54Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Highest 45% above U.S. |
$4,438 42% above U.S. |
$4,015Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.7%±36 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Shaftsbury 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% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath 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 | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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 |
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.