Compare towns
Bennington vs Middlesex vs Newfields vs Rutland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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 | Middlesex | Newfields | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249 |
1,943Lowest |
2,023 |
15,712Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
49±2.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Rutland 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Newfields 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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 26% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$57,675±$8kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$185,500±$16kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$995±$65Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,657 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
16 minLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Newfields 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Newfields School District | Rutland City School District |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | 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 | 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.