Compare towns
Windsor vs Bennington vs Putney vs Bellows Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Windsor | Bennington | Putney | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,060Lowest |
15,249Highest |
2,622 |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3 3% above VT |
44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
| Bennington and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±8.8 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,197±$4kLowest 37% below VT |
$59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
| Putney and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,300±$22kLowest 46% below VT |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,002±$107 19% below VT |
$1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
| Bennington and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 3% below VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% VT: 73.2% |
58.4% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 6% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school 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 | 6 photos → | 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.