Compare towns
Bennington vs Shaftsbury vs Rutland
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 people working from home (15.1%).
Shaftsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
Rutland has the most affordable homes ($186k 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 | Shaftsbury | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249 |
3,607Lowest |
15,712Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
43±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
49±2.1Highest 14% above 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%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.2%±3.1Highest 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% |
40.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
$86,071±$24kHighest 6% above VT |
$57,675±$8kLowest 29% below VT |
| Shaftsbury 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 |
$267,300±$24kHighest 16% below VT |
$185,500±$16kLowest 41% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$1,079±$54 13% below VT |
$995±$65Lowest 19% below VT |
| Bennington and Shaftsbury 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 |
$4,015Lowest 20% below VT |
$4,657Highest 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36 VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±8.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Shaftsbury 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% |
9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
82.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 27% below VT |
25 minHighest 5% above VT |
16 minLowest 32% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±2.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington and Rutland 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 | #62 of 70 in VT | #51 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Rutland City School District |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | Rutland Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.