Compare towns
Bennington vs West Windsor vs Windsor 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 the shortest commute (17 min average).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k median).
Barre has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
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.
| Measure | Bennington | West Windsor | Windsor | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,171Lowest |
2,060 |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
44.6±12.3 3% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10 VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±8.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor 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%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and West Windsor 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% |
40% VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 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 |
$51,197±$4kLowest 37% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$393,500±$41kHighest 24% above VT |
$170,300±$22kLowest 46% below VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$1,100±$217 11% below VT |
$1,002±$107Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% 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 | $4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,860Highest 16% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.4%±20 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 13.2% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.6% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1947 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| West Windsor 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 | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | — | 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 Our Story | 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.