Compare towns
Unity vs Bennington vs Jefferson vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Unity | Bennington | Jefferson | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,375 |
15,249Highest |
1,013Lowest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
55±4.7 41% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
32% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$67,188±$13k 17% below U.S. |
$89,453±$12kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Washington and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
$358,600±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Washington and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,106±$160 22% below U.S. |
| Unity and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,513 45% above U.S. |
$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,321 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Unity School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | Washington 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 | 4 photos → | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.