Compare towns
Bennington vs Putney vs Windsor vs St. Johnsbury
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).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
St. Johnsbury has the most affordable homes ($178k 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 | Putney | Windsor | St. Johnsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
2,622Lowest |
3,554 |
7,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44.8±6.5Highest 4% above VT |
42.8±3.8 about the VT average |
| Windsor 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| St. Johnsbury and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.6%±2.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$57,738±$9k 29% below VT |
| Putney and Bennington 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 |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$207,500±$31k 34% below VT |
$177,700±$17kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
$914±$44 26% below VT |
| Bennington and Windsor 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$5,209 3% above VT |
$3,916Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48%±11 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Putney 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% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
59.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1944Lowest 32 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
23 minHighest 3% below VT |
20 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| St. Johnsbury and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #61 of 70 in VT | #60 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | — |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 12 photos → | 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.