Compare towns
Newfane vs Dummerston vs Bennington vs Fairlee
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%).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Dummerston | Bennington | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
2,090 |
15,249Highest |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
44.7±2.3Lowest 4% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Bennington 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% |
24.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Dummerston and Fairlee 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 |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Dummerston and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
| Dummerston and Newfane 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Bennington 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 13% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Dummerston 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | 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 | 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.