Compare towns
Chatham vs Bennington vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Groton has the highest household income ($86k).
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 | Chatham | Bennington | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
15,249Highest |
507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 24% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
51.1±16.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Groton and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chatham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Groton and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19k 18% below U.S. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$85,625±$21kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Groton and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$269,000±$45k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,133±$63Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,667±$295Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690 18% above U.S. |
$4,513Highest 45% above U.S. |
$2,873Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±83.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bennington and Groton 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.