Compare towns
Bennington vs Williston vs Barre vs Rutland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Rutland has the most affordable homes ($186k 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 | Williston | Barre | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249 |
10,144 |
8,412Lowest |
15,712Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
49±2.1Highest 14% above VT |
| Rutland and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Bennington 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.2%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rutland 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.2%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$57,675±$8kLowest 29% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
$185,500±$16kLowest 41% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$995±$65Lowest 19% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
$4,657 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±8.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Rutland 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
15.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
54.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1947 29 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 27% below VT |
20 minHighest 16% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
16 minLowest 32% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT | #51 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Rutland City School District |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | Rutland Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
12.3 |
| 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.