Compare towns
Old Bennington vs Putney vs Peru vs Bennington
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%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Peru has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Putney | Peru | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 182Lowest |
2,622 |
434 |
9,245Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45±21.3 4% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.3±8.6Highest 5% above VT |
44.5±3 3% above VT |
| Peru and Old Bennington 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Old Bennington and Bennington 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Old Bennington and Bennington 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
34.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±7.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $168,750±$53kHighest 108% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$151,875±$83k 87% above VT |
$54,257±$12kLowest 33% 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$191,700±$28kLowest 39% 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±$1k 14% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
$1,115±$57 10% below VT |
| Peru and 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,331Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
70.4%±17.4Highest 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 | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
54.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1954 22 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
| Work from home | 46.7%±3.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #58 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.