Compare towns
Bennington vs Wilder vs Shaftsbury
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 affordable homes ($213k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
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 | Wilder | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
3,087Lowest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
43±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Wilder 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 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wilder 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±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$86,071±$24kHighest 6% above VT |
| Shaftsbury and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$273,200±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$267,300±$24k 16% below VT |
| Wilder and Shaftsbury 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 |
$1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
$1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT |
| Wilder and Bennington 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 |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$4,015Lowest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 27% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
25 minHighest 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington and Wilder 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 | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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.