Compare towns
Bennington vs White River Junction vs Berlin 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 most kids (17.7% under 18).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Berlin has the most homeowners (87.9%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k 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.
| Measure | Bennington | White River Junction | Berlin | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
3,364 |
2,880Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin 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% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Berlin 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 |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Berlin and White River Junction 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 |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
| White River Junction and Berlin 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 |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
| White River Junction and Berlin 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and White River Junction 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% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 27% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
21 minHighest 10% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.