Compare towns
Stoddard vs Bennington vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Stoddard | Bennington | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072 |
15,249Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bennington and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,904±$11k 18% above U.S. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20k about the U.S. average |
$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,513 45% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Stoddard School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Nelson 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 |
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| 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.