Compare towns

Bennington vs Heath vs St. Johnsbury

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%).
St. Johnsbury has the most kids (21% 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.

MeasureBenningtonHeathSt. Johnsbury
People
Population
15,249Highest
765Lowest
7,368
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.7±2.3
15% above U.S.
53.8±11.9Highest
38% above U.S.
42.8±3.8Lowest
10% 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%
21%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
St. Johnsbury 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%
33.6%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.6Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Bennington and St. Johnsbury 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.
$98,750±$23kHighest
22% above U.S.
$57,738±$9kLowest
28% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$213,300±$15k
36% below U.S.
$295,000±$45kHighest
11% below U.S.
$177,700±$17kLowest
47% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,133±$63Highest
20% below U.S.
—
$914±$44Lowest
35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,513Highest
45% above U.S.
$4,438
42% above U.S.
$3,916Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.8%±14.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48%±11
U.S.: 51.1%
Bennington and St. Johnsbury 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%
6.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
20 min
26% below U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
31.7%±17.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Heath and St. Johnsbury 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 — #60 of 70 in VT
School district Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 — —
High school in town Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School — —
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.