Compare towns
Bennington vs St. Johnsbury vs White River Junction
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 oldest population (median age 44.7).
St. Johnsbury has the most kids (21% under 18).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | St. Johnsbury | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
7,368 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
42.8±3.8 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| Bennington and St. Johnsbury 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% |
21%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| St. Johnsbury and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and St. Johnsbury 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% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.6%±2.2 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and St. Johnsbury 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 |
$57,738±$9kLowest 29% below VT |
$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$177,700±$17kLowest 44% below VT |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
| White River Junction and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$914±$44Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
| White River Junction and Bennington 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 |
$3,916Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
48%±11 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and St. Johnsbury 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% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
59.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1944Lowest 32 yrs older than VT |
1963Highest 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 27% below VT |
20 minHighest 17% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| St. Johnsbury and White River Junction 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 | #60 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 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.