Compare towns
Appleton vs Bennington vs Newburgh vs Strong
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).
Newburgh has the highest household income ($77k).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Newburgh | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
15,249Highest |
1,475 |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.8±5.7 18% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Strong 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% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strong and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Bennington 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%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% |
4.3%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$59,446±$7k 26% below U.S. |
$76,750±$10kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Newburgh 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±$15k 36% below U.S. |
$244,600±$20kHighest 26% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Newburgh and Appleton 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±$63Highest 20% below U.S. |
$950±$219 33% below U.S. |
$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Appleton 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. |
$4,513Highest 45% above U.S. |
$2,748 12% below U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% 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% |
42.9%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Bennington 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% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strong and Bennington 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 | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.