Barre, VT vs Bennington, VT

Barre, VT and Bennington, VT have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.5% difference in their overall index. Barre scores 82 while Bennington scores 84 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Barre is $986/month compared to $1,095/month in Bennington — a 10% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Barre has cheaper rent, Bennington actually has lower median home values ($185,100 vs $200,100).

Median household income in Barre is $53,288 compared to $53,839 in Bennington (-1%). Bennington does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Barre spend roughly 22.2% of their income on rent, less than the 24.4% in Bennington.