Compare towns
Stark vs Bennington vs Stratford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stark has the highest household income ($72k).
Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Stratford has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Stark | Bennington | Stratford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 419Lowest |
15,249Highest |
950 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
49.8±16.8 28% above U.S. |
| Stark and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratford and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stark and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,750±$23kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$59,446±$7k 26% below U.S. |
$49,583±$14kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Stark and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $197,700±$34k 41% below U.S. |
$213,300±$15kHighest 36% below U.S. |
$161,100±$48kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,133±$63Highest 20% below U.S. |
$775±$264Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,636 15% below U.S. |
$4,513Highest 45% above U.S. |
$2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±53.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
23.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bennington and Stark 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Stark School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Stratford School District |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.