Compare towns
Bennington vs Sutton 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%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($71k).
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 | Sutton | Wheelock | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
790 |
717Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Wheelock and Sutton 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% |
17.3%±3.4 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% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest 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% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$71,250±$18kHighest 12% below VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Sutton and Barre 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 |
$231,100±$41kHighest 27% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
| Sutton and Bennington 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 |
— | — | $1,093±$58Lowest 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 |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Sutton 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% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
85% 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 |
1979 3 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 26% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest 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.