Compare towns
Windham vs Jay vs Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Windham | Jay | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 594 |
471Lowest |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
| Jay and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
| Windham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Windham 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 | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
| 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.