Compare towns
Bennington vs Washburn vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
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 | Washburn | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,355Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
48.2±7.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Washburn 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Washburn 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bennington and Washburn 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Washburn 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 26% below U.S. |
$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$65,625±$7kHighest 19% below U.S. |
| 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±$15kHighest 36% below U.S. |
$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S. |
$210,400±$15k 37% below U.S. |
| 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 20% below U.S. |
$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S. |
$1,093±$58 23% below U.S. |
| 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 45% above U.S. |
$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S. |
$5,192Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±24.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bennington and Barre 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 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Washburn District High School | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
12.0 |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.