Compare towns
Bennington vs Appleton vs Brattleboro vs Hoosick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Brattleboro has the most people working from home (17.9%).
Hoosick has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Bennington | Appleton | Brattleboro | Hoosick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,360Lowest |
12,122 |
6,671 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
44.9±5.5 15% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hoosick and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest 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 | $59,446±$7k 26% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$58,241±$8k 28% below U.S. |
$63,372±$21kHighest 22% below U.S. |
| Hoosick and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18kHighest 23% below U.S. |
$177,200±$21kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58 24% below U.S. |
$881±$148Lowest 38% 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 | $4,513 45% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,700Highest 83% above U.S. |
$4,071 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
43%±13.4Lowest 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 | 13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brattleboro and Hoosick 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 | #62 of 484 in NY |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Appleton Public Schools | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | HOOSICK FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | HOOSICK FALLS HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
9.7 |
| 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.