Compare towns

Washington vs Bennington vs Salisbury

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).

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.

MeasureWashingtonBenningtonSalisbury
People
Population
1,208Lowest
15,249Highest
1,609
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55±4.7Highest
41% above U.S.
44.7±2.3Lowest
15% above U.S.
51.5±4.5
32% above U.S.
Washington and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.8%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Salisbury and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
24.9%±4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Washington and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.1Lowest
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
$89,453±$12k
11% above U.S.
$59,446±$7kLowest
26% below U.S.
$111,591±$17kHighest
38% above U.S.
Salisbury and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$358,600±$32k
8% above U.S.
$213,300±$15kLowest
36% below U.S.
$363,400±$47kHighest
9% above U.S.
Salisbury and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,106±$160Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,133±$63
20% below U.S.
$1,917±$632Highest
36% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,321Lowest
39% above U.S.
$4,513
45% above U.S.
$5,859Highest
88% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±88.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
68.8%±14.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bennington and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
13.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
58.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
34% above U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
32 min
21% above U.S.
Work from home
14.9%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
23.3%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Salisbury 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 Washington School District Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 Merrimack Valley 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.