Compare towns
Bennington vs Ludlow 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).
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Ludlow | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249 |
1,990Lowest |
15,712Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Lowest 4% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
49±2.1 14% above VT |
| Ludlow 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% |
14.1%±6Lowest 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%±2.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.2%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Rutland 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% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kHighest 27% below VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$57,675±$8k 29% below VT |
| Bennington and Rutland 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 |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
$185,500±$16kLowest 41% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
$995±$65Lowest 19% below VT |
| Bennington and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,890Highest about the VT average |
$4,657 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2Lowest 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% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 27% below VT |
20 minHighest 14% below VT |
16 minLowest 32% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow 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 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | 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.