Compare towns
Bennington vs Randolph 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 most affordable homes ($213k median).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Randolph | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
2,007Lowest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
50.5±7.7Highest 17% above VT |
43±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Randolph 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% |
11%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.2%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Randolph 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% |
42.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
7.3%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Randolph 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 27% below VT |
$75,069±$11k 8% below VT |
$86,071±$24kHighest 6% above VT |
| Shaftsbury and Randolph 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 |
$235,400±$25k 26% below VT |
$267,300±$24kHighest 16% below VT |
| Shaftsbury and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$1,095±$198 11% below VT |
$1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT |
| Bennington and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Highest 10% below VT |
$4,507 11% below VT |
$4,015Lowest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.3%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Randolph 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% |
14.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
53.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
25 minHighest 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Randolph 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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 | 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.