Compare towns
Bennington vs Rutland vs Putney
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).
Rutland has the most affordable homes ($186k median).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k 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 | Rutland | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249 |
15,712Highest |
2,622Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
49±2.1Highest 14% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Rutland and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Rutland 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% |
26.2%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Rutland 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% |
33.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.2%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
$57,675±$8kLowest 29% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| 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 |
$185,500±$16kLowest 41% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$995±$65 19% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,657 8% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±8.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.3% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 27% below VT |
16 minLowest 32% below VT |
18 minHighest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | #51 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Rutland City School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Rutland Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
12.3Lowest |
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| 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.