Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Bennington spent more per resident in 2022 than 73% of similar towns
Bennington’s town government spent $18.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,221 per resident. Water and other utilities ($2.5 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Bennington is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$1,306 per resident in 2022: more than 73% of them
Bennington’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,306 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 30 Vermont towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,064, and the middle half spent $780–$1,375. Bennington spent more than 73% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($2.4 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Vermont towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Bennington itself left out).
About $1,221 per resident a year, or $3.35 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 25%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is down 4% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Bennington reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $1,306 · 2023: $1,304 · 2024: $1,221.
full-time in March 2025, up from 85 in 2022. Both are Census estimates.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $4,513 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 2.12% of the home’s value, vs 1.59% across Vermont.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Bennington’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Bennington’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Bennington →
Most Vermont towns vote on March 2, 2027
Check Bennington’s own dates: some towns hold the business session on another day or vote by ballot (SB2).
Bennington’s meetings aren’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on its website.
Town website ↗Vermont’s Town Meeting Day is the first Tuesday in March, when towns vote on budgets and elect officers.
Some towns hold the business session on another day, and some vote by ballot (SB2). Check Bennington’s site for its warrant and dates.
Who’s in charge in Bennington
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
One full-time town employee for every 170 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (15,312).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Mount Anthony UHSD 14
Bennington’s middle and high school district, shared with North Bennington, Pownal, Shaftsbury, Woodford. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $16,023 per pupil, $8,868 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Vermont districts overall: 5% local, 89% state, 6% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Bennington voted in 2024
Official results for Bennington’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat59.0%4,235 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican37.5%2,690 votesOthers: 3.5% (252 votes).
Most votes in Bennington: Kamala D Harris
Bennington County: Harris 59.5%, Trump 37.2% · Vermont: Harris 63.8%, Trump 32.3%
of Bennington’s 12,358 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Vermont: 71%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Bennington: Bernie Sanders
Bennington County: Sanders 58.5%, Malloy 32.6% · Vermont: Sanders 63.2%, Malloy 32.1%
Most votes in Bennington: Phil Scott
Bennington County: Scott 69.3%, Charlestin 21.2% · Vermont: Scott 73.4%, Charlestin 21.8%
Most votes in the district: Becca Balint
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Bennington, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bennington | 59.0% | 37.5% | 3.5% | 7,177 |
| Bennington County | 59.5% | 37.2% | 3.3% | 20,710 |
| Vermont | 63.8% | 32.3% | 3.9% | 369,422 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Bennington sends 4 representatives to the Vermont House alone.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: bennington.com ↗
- 2Vermont HouseBennington is split between 2 districts
- 3Vermont SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Vermont
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Bennington compares with the towns next door
Bennington spent $1,306 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $370. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Pownal | $370 | $3,560 |
| Woodford | estimate | $3,075 |
| Shaftsbury | estimate | $4,015 |
| Bennington | $1,306 | $4,513 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Bennington’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Bennington’s government
How much does Bennington spend per resident?
About $1,221 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,306 was more than 73% of 30 Vermont towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Bennington?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,513 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 2.12% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.59% across Vermont. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see bennington.com.
Who runs Bennington’s government?
See bennington.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Bennington yet.
How did Bennington vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 59.0%, Donald J Trump 37.5% (7,177 votes, official results). Bennington County: Harris 59.5%, Trump 37.2%. Vermont: Harris 63.8%, Trump 32.3%.
How many people work for Bennington?
90 full-time and 21 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $637,796 (about $7.7M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Bennington in the state legislature?
Bennington is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Vermont Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District Bennington (Rob Plunkett and Seth Bongartz). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
When is town meeting in Bennington?
Most Vermont towns vote on the first Tuesday in March (March 2, 2027). Some hold the business session on another day or vote by ballot (SB2), so check bennington.com for Bennington’s own dates.
Ask neighbors about Bennington’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →