Compare towns

Whitingham vs Bennington vs Pawlet

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whitingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1%).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Pawlet has the most people working from home (20.4%).

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.

MeasureWhitinghamBenningtonPawlet
People
Population
1,368Lowest
15,249Highest
1,480
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.7%
VT: +2.8%
-3.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
46.4±7.1
8% above VT
44.7±2.3Lowest
4% above VT
47.9±7.5Highest
11% above VT
Pawlet and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.5
VT: 17.9%
17.7%±2.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.3%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Pawlet and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.1%±2.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
25.2%±2.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
27.3%±2.6
VT: 21.4%
Whitingham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
36.9%
VT: 43.8%
37.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
5.8%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
4.4%±2.9
VT: 7%
Bennington and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,625±$11kHighest
13% below VT
$59,446±$7kLowest
27% below VT
$62,273±$14k
23% below VT
Whitingham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$262,300±$30k
17% below VT
$213,300±$15kLowest
33% below VT
$266,200±$44kHighest
16% below VT
Pawlet and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$673±$150Lowest
45% below VT
$1,133±$63
8% below VT
$1,153±$215Highest
7% below VT
Pawlet and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,055Highest
about the VT average
$4,513
10% below VT
$3,924Lowest
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.7%±47.3
VT: 48.4%
68.8%±14.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
42.6%±21.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Bennington and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
13.2%
VT: 10.1%
10%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%
VT: 73.2%
58.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
87.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
2 yrs older than VT
1961Lowest
15 yrs older than VT
1964
12 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
62% above VT
17 minLowest
27% below VT
33 min
40% above VT
Work from home
9.7%±5.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
15.1%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
20.4%±8.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
Pawlet 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 Twin Valley Unified School District #75 Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 Mettawee School District #84
High school in town Twin Valley Middle High School Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
7.8Lowest
14.7Highest
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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.