Compare towns
Old Bennington vs Jay vs Peru vs Stannard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Old Bennington has the most people working from home (46.7%).
Jay has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Peru has the most renters (21% rent).
Stannard has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Old Bennington | Jay | Peru | Stannard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 182Lowest |
471Highest |
434 |
228 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45±21.3Lowest 4% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
48.3±14.6 12% above VT |
| Jay and Stannard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±12Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.2%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Old Bennington and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.8%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
25.9%±8.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Old Bennington and Stannard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
44.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±7.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
0%±6.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Jay and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $168,750±$53kHighest 108% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$151,875±$83k 87% above VT |
$66,979±$30kLowest 18% below VT |
| Old Bennington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $445,500±$105kHighest 41% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$216,200±$44kLowest 32% below VT |
| Old Bennington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$1kLowest 14% below VT |
— | $1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
— |
| Peru and Old Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,690Highest 72% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,183 17% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% VT: 73.2% |
97% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
98.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 46.7%±3.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.6%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| 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.