Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Bennington vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wardsboro has the most expensive homes ($299k median).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
West Fairlee has the highest household income ($77k).
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 | Wardsboro | Bennington | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 820 |
15,249Highest |
711Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
44.7±2.3Lowest 4% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
| Wardsboro and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$76,500±$16kHighest 6% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47kHighest 5% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Wardsboro and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington and Wardsboro 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Rivendell Interstate 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 |
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.