Compare towns
Bennington vs Jefferson vs Unity 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Jefferson | Unity | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,013Lowest |
1,375 |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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% |
33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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. |
$67,188±$13k 17% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$65,625±$7k 19% below U.S. |
| Unity and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,093±$58 23% below U.S. |
| Unity and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 45% above U.S. |
$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$5,192 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Unity 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson 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 | — | Unity School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | — | None in town | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | — | 10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 14 photos → | 4 photos → | 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.