Compare towns
Bennington vs Berlin vs Sheldon 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 most renters (41.6% rent).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Berlin | Sheldon | Hoosick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
2,880 |
2,267Lowest |
6,671 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.9±5.5 15% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Hoosick 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% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Hoosick 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% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$63,372±$21k 22% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Sheldon 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. |
$273,600±$31kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$177,200±$21kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$881±$148Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Highest 45% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,071 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43%±13.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Hoosick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hoosick 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — | #62 of 484 in NY |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | HOOSICK FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town | HOOSICK FALLS HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | — | 9.7Lowest |
| 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.