Bennington County

As of the 2020 census, Bennington County, VT, has a population of approximately 37,347. The racial makeup is around 94.5% White, 1.2% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.0% Asian, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race make up 2.0% of the population. The county has 17,449 households and a median household income of $54,828. The population is spread across various age groups, with a median age of 44.4 years. The county covers 678 square miles.

As of 2021, Bennington County, VT had a median home value of approximately $232,000. The median rent was around $900 per month. The county had a homeownership rate of about 70.5%, with around 29.5% of residents renting. Housing units numbered roughly 19,000, with a vacancy rate of about 17%. Housing costs for homeowners with a mortgage averaged $1,400 monthly. Population estimates were around 35,000 residents.

Bennington County, VT, participates in both local and national elections. For the 2022 midterm elections, key positions included state representatives and senators. In the Vermont House of Representatives, Bennington-4 District saw incumbent Democrat Mary Morrissey run unopposed. The Vermont Senate election featured two seats, with Democrat Dick Sears and Brian Campion successfully re-elected.

In the 2020 presidential election, Bennington County voted as follows: Joe Biden (D) received 11,864 votes (56.3%), while Donald Trump (R) garnered 8,523 votes (40.4%).

Local elections in Bennington typically focus on positions such as county sheriff, state's attorney, and probate judge. For precise candidate lists, voter registration, and election days, residents should refer to the Vermont Secretary of State’s website or Bennington county's official resources. For the most up-to-date information, always refer to local election offices.

Bennington County, VT, has a relatively well-educated population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau:

• Percentage of residents 25+ with a high school diploma: Approximately 91%, which is higher than the national average of around 88%.
• Percentage of residents 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: About 30%, which aligns closely with the national average (approximately 32%) but is slightly lower than Vermont’s state average of 38%.

In terms of higher education attainment, Bennington County trails slightly behind the state average but performs comparably to the national average. The educational infrastructure, including access to institutions like Bennington College and nearby Williams College, likely contributes positively to these metrics. Nonetheless, there's room for improvement in higher education attainment relative to the state benchmarks.

As of the most recent data, Bennington County, VT has a labor force participation rate of approximately 58.4%. The unemployment rate stood at around 3.8%, slightly above Vermont’s average of 3.0% but below the national average of 3.9%.

Top industries in Bennington County include healthcare and social assistance (employing around 20%), manufacturing (approximately 18%), and retail trade (about 13%). Compared to state averages, the county has a higher concentration of manufacturing jobs, as Vermont's manufacturing employment is around 10%. Healthcare and social assistance reflect state and national trends, where it's a dominant sector across many regions. Retail trade employment is consistent with national patterns but slightly higher than Vermont, where it's around 12%.

Overall, Bennington County's employment profile shows a mix of traditional manufacturing and growing service-oriented sectors, mirroring broader economic trends with slight regional variances.

As of the latest available data, the median household income in Bennington County, VT, is approximately $56,000. Comparatively, the median household income for the entire state of Vermont is around $63,000, whereas the national median household income hovers at approximately $68,700.

To illustrate:

Bennington County's median income is notably lower than both the state and national averages, highlighting regional economic disparities.

Bennington County, VT, has a relatively moderate crime rate compared to national averages. According to the latest available data:

In comparison to national averages, Bennington County experiences lower violent crime rates but slightly higher property crime rates. The data indicate that while there are occurrences of serious crimes, they are less frequent than in many urban areas across the country.