Compare towns
Bennington vs Sheffield vs Wheelock 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Sheffield | Wheelock | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
573Lowest |
717 |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
| Wheelock 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% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Bennington 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Sheffield 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±$7k 27% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
$65,625±$7kHighest 19% below VT |
| Barre and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15kHighest 33% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$189,600±$37k 40% below VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
| Bennington and Barre 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 |
$967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
— | $1,093±$58 11% below VT |
| Bennington and Barre 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 |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$2,937 42% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Sheffield 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% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock 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 | — | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | 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.