Compare towns
Bennington vs Williston vs Putney
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Williston | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
10,144 |
2,622Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Williston and Putney 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
20 minHighest 16% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.