Compare towns
Appleton vs Bennington vs Brattleboro vs Penobscot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Brattleboro has the most kids (19% under 18).
Penobscot has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Appleton | Bennington | Brattleboro | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
15,249Highest |
12,122 |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Penobscot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Brattleboro and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$59,446±$7k 26% below U.S. |
$58,241±$8k 28% below U.S. |
$63,194±$14kHighest 22% below U.S. |
| Penobscot and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Penobscot and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Penobscot and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,513 45% above U.S. |
$5,700Highest 83% above U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brattleboro and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #58 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
9.0Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.