Compare towns
Newfane vs Bennington vs Barre vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Bennington has the most kids (17.7% under 18).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Newfane | Bennington | Barre | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456Lowest |
15,249Highest |
8,412 |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
| Newfane and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kHighest 18% below VT |
$59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Newfane and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
| Dover and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Newfane and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 about the VT average |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 13% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Dover 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.