Compare towns
Bennington vs Belgrade 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).
Belgrade has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Brattleboro has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Belgrade | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
3,351Lowest |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
47.3±14.6Highest 22% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Belgrade and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Belgrade 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% |
23.9%±6.4Lowest 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% |
49.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Belgrade 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. |
$88,338±$13kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$312,200±$44kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
| Belgrade and Brattleboro 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. |
$857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58 24% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Brattleboro 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. |
$2,859Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$5,700Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Brattleboro 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% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belgrade and Brattleboro 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 | #71 of 133 in ME | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | RSU 18 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.