Compare towns
Bennington vs Brattleboro vs Ogunquit vs Shaftsbury
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).
Brattleboro has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
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 | Brattleboro | Ogunquit | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
7,657 |
1,379Lowest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43±6.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shaftsbury 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% |
24.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$52,734±$12kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$86,071±$24k 7% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$234,600±$20k 29% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$267,300±$24k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,113±$67 21% below U.S. |
— | $1,079±$54Lowest 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. |
$5,490Highest 76% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,015Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.7%±36 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Shaftsbury 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% |
21.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #58 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.