Compare towns
Putney vs Bennington vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
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 | Putney | Bennington | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
15,249Highest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
| Berlin and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Putney and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
| Berlin and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest 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 | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 24% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
21 minHighest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Bennington 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 | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.