Compare towns
Bennington vs Brattleboro vs Canaan
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Canaan has the highest household income ($82k).
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 | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
12,122 |
3,811Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| 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%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brattleboro and Bennington 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% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan 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 26% below U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$81,583±$6kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18kHighest 23% below U.S. |
$254,000±$26k 24% below U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Canaan 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. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,140±$90Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Canaan and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
$5,985Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brattleboro 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 | #33 of 70 in VT | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Brattleboro Union High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
9.0Lowest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.