City profile · Vermont · Census ACS 2023

Bennington, VT

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Bennington - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

8,888
Residents
$53,839
Median income
$185,100
Median home
$1,297
Median rent (state)

Bennington - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Bennington lands in the 25th percentile for household income and the 17th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

25th
percentile, household income
38th
percentile, home value
45th
percentile, median rent
17th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Bennington, VT

8,888 people live in Bennington, Vermont - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Bennington brings in $53,839 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 8.1%. Bennington's housing stock carries a median value of $185,100, and the median resident age is 45.9 years. About 35.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 51.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Bennington's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 2855.3 crimes per 100,000 residents, above the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Vermont tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Vermont scores 98.0 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,297 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Vermont run around $251, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 13.6 minutes, with 73.1% driving alone and 8.9% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 52.3 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

Population

8,888 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Vermont

Median Household Income

$53,839 /yr

Poverty 8.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Vermont average

How does Bennington compare to other US cities?

Where Bennington sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 25% higher than other cities
Home value 38% pricier than other cities
Median rent 45% pricier than other cities
Safety 17% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Vermont and the picture shifts: Bennington ranks #22 of 30 Vermont cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Bennington's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Vermont, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

25thIncome percentile
17thSafety percentile

25th percentile nationally for median household income · 17th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Bennington's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Bennington's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 34 Avg. percentile National median
Bennington's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Bennington's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$185,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 62% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Bennington $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Bennington, VT Bennington, VT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Bennington, VT-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Bennington, VT median $53,839/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Bennington, VT's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Bennington, VT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 35.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.7%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
8,888
Median Income
$53,839
Median Home Value
$185,100
Median Age
45.9
Poverty Rate
8.1%
Labor force participation
51.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
35.1%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2855.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
389.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2466.2
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
13.6 minutes
Drive Alone
73.1%
Carpool
12.3%
Public Transit
1.0%
Walk
2.2%
Work from Home
8.9%
Other
2.5%

Based on 4,153 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Vermont - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$98
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$251
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Vermont state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Vermont state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Bennington sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,297/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
52.3 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Vermont

Barre
8,461 people
Winooski
8,198 people
Montpelier
8,038 people
Brattleboro
7,793 people
Middlebury
7,145 people
Essex Junction
10,720 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Bennington's 8,888 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Oak Island, NC
8,888 people
Beaver Falls, PA
8,885 people
Summit, WA
8,885 people
Bainbridge, OH
8,882 people
Village St. George, LA
8,880 people
Lansdowne, MD
8,879 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Bennington's $53,839 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Duenweg, MO
$53,839 median income
Pigeon Forge, TN
$53,839 median income
Westview, FL
$53,840 median income
Green Lake, WI
$53,841 median income
Talent, OR
$53,843 median income
Gila Crossing, AZ
$53,846 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Bennington, VT Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Bennington, VT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 93.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.5% White 93.9% Black or African American 0.3% Asian 1.3% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 4.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Bennington compares to nearby Vermont cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Bennington (this city) 8,888 $53,839
Barre 8,461 $53,288
Winooski 8,198 $77,020
Montpelier 8,038 $79,175
Census ACS 5-year FIPS VT FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Bennington, VT?

What is the population of Bennington, VT? +

The population of Bennington, VT stands at 8,888 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Bennington, VT? +

In Bennington, the typical household earns $53,839 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Bennington? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Bennington; the closest available measure is the Vermont state average, a cost of living index of 98.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Vermont vary by metro area.

Is Bennington, VT safe? +

Bennington has a total crime rate of 2855.3 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Bennington, VT? +

Bennington's median home value sits at $185,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.