Compare towns
Bennington vs Bedford vs Brattleboro
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 most affordable homes ($213k median).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Brattleboro has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Bedford | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249 |
23,746Highest |
12,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford 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% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Bedford 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. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Bedford 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #58 of 70 in VT | #7 of 120 in NH | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Bedford School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Bedford High School | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
13.5 |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.