Bennington County, Vermont: commercial real estate data.
Bennington County, Vermont had an estimated 37,039 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.8 percent since the 2020 census base of 37,349, across 675 square miles. County output reached $2.38 bn in 2024, 1,258 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 58 7(a) approvals worth $14.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Bennington County
How many people live in Bennington County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202437,269
- Households14,987
- Average household size2.49
- Median household income$73,325
- Median age46.9
- Median gross rent$1,109 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$279,900
- Home value to household income3.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher41.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree19.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over27,047
- Population under 186,953
- Share under 1818.7 percent
- Population 65 and over9,088
- Share 65 and over24.4 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6421,228
- Civilian labor force18,587
- Unemployment rate4.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over61.3 percent
- Rank by population among Vermont counties8th of 14
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1278th of 3,222
Bennington County is the 8th largest of 14 Vermont counties by population. A median home costs 3.8 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 24.4 percent against 18.7 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Bennington County
Is Bennington County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202437,039
- Census 2020 base population37,349
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.83 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-146
- Births, 2024245
- Deaths, 2024489
- Natural change, 2024-244
- Net domestic migration, 202426
- Net international migration, 202473
- Total net migration, 202499
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024543
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2135th of 3,144
The county has lost 0.83 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Bennington County
Where are people moving to Bennington County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving958
- People arriving, from those returns1,550
- Tax returns filed by households leaving913
- Net household movement45
- Adjusted gross income arriving$118.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$40.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$123,725
- Average income of a leaving household$85,025
- Largest single originBerkshire County (66 households)
- Largest single destinationRutland County (64 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkshire County | 66 | 114 | $4.3 m |
| Rensselaer County | 51 | 74 | $3.0 m |
| Windham County | 49 | 84 | $2.9 m |
| Rutland County | 45 | 75 | $2.7 m |
| Chittenden County | 22 | 25 | $1.1 m |
| New York County | 20 | 32 | $12.9 m |
Households arriving report $38,700 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Berkshire County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Bennington County
What is the Bennington County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.38 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.26 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.3 percent
- GDP change over five years36.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Vermont areas BEA publishes7th of 14
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1135th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$63,928
Output grew 5.3 percent in the latest year and 36.6 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Bennington County
Employment by industry in Bennington County
- Covered employment, annual average16,750
- Establishments reporting1,938
- Average annual pay$58,906
- Average weekly wage$1,133
- Health care and social assistance, employment3,062
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$64,271
- Retail trade, employment2,617
- Retail trade, average annual pay$43,754
- Manufacturing, employment1,757
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$62,916
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,728
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$31,145
- Educational services, employment1,076
- Construction, employment632
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 3,062 | 144 | $64,271 |
| Retail trade | 2,617 | 216 | $43,754 |
| Manufacturing | 1,757 | 66 | $62,916 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,728 | 132 | $31,145 |
| Educational services | 1,076 | 49 | $49,827 |
| Construction | 632 | 172 | $56,992 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 598 | 350 | $144,672 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 585 | 192 | $74,384 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 3,062 jobs, 18.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Bennington County
How many businesses are in Bennington County?
- Establishments, all industries1,258
- Employment at those establishments14,352
- Annual payroll$698.7 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents33.8
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Bennington County
Building permits in Bennington County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202454
- Declared construction value permitted$17.5 m
- Single family units authorized50
- Multifamily units authorized4
- Multifamily share of units7.4 percent
- Average declared value per unit$324,279
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.6
Single-family homes are 92.6 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Bennington County
SBA loans in Bennington County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded58
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$14.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$248,395
- Median 7(a) approval$75,000
- 10th percentile approval$20,000
- 90th percentile approval$805,800
- Largest single approval$1,905,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)468
- Jobs per approval8.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active15
- Distinct industries receiving approvals39
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer19.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms11
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter47
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countHotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (5)
- Most active lenderThe Bank of Bennington (13)
- 504 approvals recorded13
- 504 gross approval dollars$6.9 m
- Average 504 approval$529,385
- Median 504 approval$284,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval4.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved8.0
- Most active CDCGranite State Economic Development Corporation (10)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$21.3 m
The average approval of $248,395 sits well above the median of $75,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 19.0 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Bennington County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Bennington County
Do SBA loans in Bennington County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded13
- Paid in full12
- Charged off1
- Status: Paid in full12
- Status: Cancelled6
- Status: Exempt from disclosure34
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed5
Only 13 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Bennington County
SBA lending by place in Bennington County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending14
- Bennington, approvals22
- Manchester Center, approvals16
- Arlington, approvals3
- Bondville, approvals2
- Dorset, approvals2
- Winhall, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Bennington | 22 | $5,935,400 |
| Manchester Center | 16 | $2,744,000 |
| Arlington | 3 | $483,000 |
| Bondville | 2 | $1,510,000 |
| Dorset | 2 | $1,235,000 |
| Winhall | 2 | $734,000 |
| East Arlington | 2 | $350,000 |
| North Bennington | 2 | $105,000 |
| 6 other borrower cities | 7 | $1,310,500 |
Bennington accounts for 22 approvals against 16 in Manchester Center. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Bennington County
How large is Bennington County?
- Land area675 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Vermont counties8th of 14
- Width, east to west23.9 mi
- Height, north to south39.6 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land55
- Establishments per square mile1.86
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Bennington County
Flood risk in Bennington County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book18
- Of those, participating in the NFIP17
- NFIP participation rate94.4 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 9
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Bennington County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The EPA places Bennington County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 9, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 94.4 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Bennington County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Bennington County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202437,269
- Households14,987
- Average household size2.49
- Median household income$73,325
- Median age46.9
Common questions
Bennington County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Bennington County, Vermont?
The Census Bureau estimates 37,039 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 37,269, in 14,987 households, ranking 8th of 14 Vermont counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Bennington County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.83 percent since the 2020 census base of 37,349, to 37,039 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 245 births against 489 deaths, with net migration of 99. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Bennington County?
$73,325. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $279,900, which is 3.8 times income, and median gross rent is $1,109 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Bennington County?
1,258 establishments, employing 14,352 people with an annual payroll of $698.7 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Bennington County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 3,062 jobs, 18.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 16,750 jobs at an average annual pay of $58,906, or $1,133 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Bennington County?
58 7(a) approvals totaling $14.4 m since FY2020, across 15 lenders, with a median approval of $75,000, plus 13 504 approvals worth $6.9 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Bennington County?
54 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $17.5 m. Multifamily was 7.4 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Bennington County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Bennington County come from?
The largest single origin is Berkshire County, with 66 households. Arriving households report an average income of $123,725 against $85,025 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Bennington County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Bennington County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Bennington County
Cities and places in Bennington.
15 Census places lie wholly or partly in Bennington County. All 15 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bennington | CDP | 9,245 | 22 | Wholly in this county |
| Manchester Center | CDP | 2,037 | 16 | Wholly in this county |
| Arlington | CDP | 1,623 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| North Bennington | village | 1,336 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Manchester | village | 676 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Pownal | CDP | 570 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| South Shaftsbury | CDP | 566 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Stamford | CDP | 466 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pownal Center | CDP | 456 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Dorset | CDP | 310 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| North Pownal | CDP | 308 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Readsboro | CDP | 299 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Old Bennington | village | 182 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| East Dorset | CDP | 177 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Stratton Mountain | CDP | 87 | None recorded | 55.8 percent here, 44.2 percent Windham County |
A further 10 of the county's 58 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Bennington County, the largest being Bondville (2), Winhall (2), East Arlington (2). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.