Compare towns

Bennington vs South Barre vs Windsor

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 youngest population (median age 44.7).
South Barre has the most homeowners (82.7%).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).

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.

MeasureBenningtonSouth BarreWindsor
People
Population
15,249Highest
1,346Lowest
3,554
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-2.1%
VT: +2.8%
+0.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.7±2.3Lowest
4% above VT
52.7±2.6Highest
22% above VT
44.8±6.5
4% above VT
South Barre and Windsor 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%
9.9%±5.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.5%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Windsor 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%
11.5%±4.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.7%±6.9Highest
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%
34.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
39.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.5
VT: 7%
0.7%±0.8Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$59,446±$7k
27% below VT
$78,050±$16kHighest
4% below VT
$52,484±$11kLowest
35% below VT
South Barre 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
$257,600±$25kHighest
19% below VT
$207,500±$31kLowest
34% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,133±$63
8% below VT
$1,609±$371Highest
30% above VT
$1,026±$89Lowest
17% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,513Lowest
10% below VT
$4,750
6% below VT
$5,209Highest
3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.8%±14.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
36.1%±40.7
VT: 48.4%
31.5%±17Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Bennington and South Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.8%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%
VT: 73.2%
82.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
57.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
15 yrs older than VT
1969Highest
7 yrs older than VT
1945Lowest
31 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 min
27% below VT
15 minLowest
36% below VT
23 minHighest
3% below VT
Work from home
15.1%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
16.5%±10.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
10.3%±5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
South Barre 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 — #61 of 70 in VT
School district Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 — —
High school in town Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School — —
Students per teacherat that high school
14.7
— —
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.