Compare towns
Bennington vs Middlesex vs Shaftsbury
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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
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 | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,943Lowest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
43±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Bennington and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shaftsbury and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Middlesex 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 27% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$86,071±$24k 6% above VT |
| Middlesex and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$267,300±$24k 16% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,015Lowest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.