Compare towns
Bennington vs Brattleboro vs Gorham vs Barre
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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
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 | Gorham | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
12,122 |
2,682Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8 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%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Brattleboro 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% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham 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. |
$61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
$65,625±$7kHighest 19% below U.S. |
| Barre and Gorham 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. |
$257,300±$18kHighest 23% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$210,400±$15k 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58 24% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,093±$58 23% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Barre 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. |
$5,700Highest 83% above U.S. |
$4,334Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$5,192 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest 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% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1 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 | #57 of 120 in NH | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Brattleboro Union High School | Gorham High School | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
9.0Lowest |
9.0Lowest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.