Compare towns

Bennington vs Newfields 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 the shortest commute (17 min average).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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.

MeasureBenningtonNewfieldsBarre
People
Population
15,249Highest
2,023Lowest
8,412
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.7±2.3Highest
15% above U.S.
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
42.2±6.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
Bennington and Newfields 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%
18.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.5%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Newfields and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.2%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Bennington and Barre 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%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.9Lowest
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±$7kLowest
26% below U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$65,625±$7k
19% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$213,300±$15k
36% below U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$210,400±$15kLowest
37% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,133±$63
20% below U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,093±$58Lowest
23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,513Lowest
45% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,192
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.8%±14.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
34.4%±10.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bennington and Newfields 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%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
17.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
19 min
30% below U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 Newfields 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 Our Story 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.