Compare towns
Bennington vs Orange vs Wells vs Barre
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Orange | Wells | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
957Lowest |
1,148 |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Wells and Orange 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% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Orange 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% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Wells 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 VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| 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 27% below VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Wells and Orange 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 |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
| Wells and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
| Orange and Wells 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 |
$3,545 30% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Wells 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% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington and Orange 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | 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 | 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.