Compare towns
Bennington vs Wilder vs West Windsor
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%).
West Windsor has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
3,087 |
1,171Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+22.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Lowest 4% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
| West Windsor and Wilder 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% |
19.8%±10Highest VT: 17.9% |
| West Windsor and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
59.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and West Windsor 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 |
$108,750±$18kHighest 34% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$393,500±$41kHighest 24% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
$1,100±$217Lowest 11% 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 | $4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$5,860Highest 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Wilder 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% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 27% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2Highest 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 | — | — |
| 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.