Compare towns
Newfane vs Putney vs Bennington
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%).
Putney has the highest household income ($80k).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k 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 | Newfane | Putney | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,456Lowest |
2,622 |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Bennington 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
| Putney and Newfane 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 |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
| Putney 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,133±$63 8% 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest 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 | 10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 13% above VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #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 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.