Compare towns
Bennington vs Jay vs Richford 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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Richford has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Jay | Richford | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
471Lowest |
2,467 |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
39±3.6Lowest 10% below VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
| Jay 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 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Richford and Bennington 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Richford 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 27% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
| Jay and Bennington 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 |
— | $1,160±$66Highest 6% below VT |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
| Richford 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Richford 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% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
17.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.4% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1947 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
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.