Compare towns

Bennington vs West Windsor vs St. Johnsbury

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 shortest commute (17 min average).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
St. Johnsbury has the most affordable homes ($178k median).

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.

MeasureBenningtonWest WindsorSt. Johnsbury
People
Population
15,249Highest
1,171Lowest
7,368
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%
VT: +2.8%
+22.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.7±2.3
4% above VT
54±5.9Highest
25% above VT
42.8±3.8Lowest
about the VT average
Kids under 18
17.7%±2.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.8%±10
VT: 17.9%
21%±2.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
St. Johnsbury and West Windsor 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%
25.5%±6.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
West 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%
59.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6
VT: 7%
6.1%±3.6Highest
VT: 7%
5.6%±2.2Lowest
VT: 7%
West Windsor 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
$108,750±$18kHighest
34% above VT
$57,738±$9kLowest
29% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$213,300±$15k
33% below VT
$393,500±$41kHighest
24% above VT
$177,700±$17kLowest
44% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,133±$63Highest
8% below VT
$1,100±$217
11% below VT
$914±$44Lowest
26% below VT
Bennington and West Windsor 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
$5,860Highest
16% above VT
$3,916Lowest
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.8%±14.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
48%±11
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%
3.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
16.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
59.6%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
15 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1944Lowest
32 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
27% below VT
28 minHighest
20% above VT
20 min
17% below VT
Work from home
15.1%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±3.2
VT: 16.9%
17.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
St. Johnsbury and West Windsor 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 Mount Ascutney School District #86 —
High school in town Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School None in town —
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.