Compare towns
Bennington vs Bellows Falls vs Middlesex vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Bellows Falls has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Bellows Falls | Middlesex | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
2,891 |
1,943Lowest |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Brattleboro and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Bennington 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 27% below VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$58,241±$8k 28% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Middlesex and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 10% below VT |
$4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 6 photos → |
VT 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.