Compare towns
Bennington vs Jay vs Rutland
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 most kids (17.7% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Jay | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249 |
471Lowest |
15,712Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Lowest 4% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
49±2.1 14% above VT |
| Jay and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.2%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rutland 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% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$57,675±$8kLowest 29% below VT |
| Jay and Bennington 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 |
$185,500±$16kLowest 41% 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±$63Highest 8% below VT |
— | $995±$65Lowest 19% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 10% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,657Highest 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±8.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Rutland 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% |
15.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
54.9%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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 27% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
16 minLowest 32% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±2.6Lowest 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 | — | #51 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Rutland City School District |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | Rutland Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.