Compare towns
Shaftsbury vs Jay vs Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Shaftsbury | Jay | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,607 |
471Lowest |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
| Jay and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,071±$24kHighest 6% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
| Shaftsbury and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$24kHighest 16% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
| Shaftsbury and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT |
— | $1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
| Bennington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,015 20% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,513Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.7%±36 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | #62 of 70 in VT | — | #58 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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 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.