Compare towns
Bennington vs Brattleboro vs Mapleton vs Pownal
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%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Pownal has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Brattleboro | Mapleton | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
12,122 |
1,884Lowest |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49±9.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Pownal and Brattleboro 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%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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% |
25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pownal 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$64,163±$21k 21% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Pownal 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$256,600±$32k 23% below U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58 24% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$944±$139 33% 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. |
$5,700Highest 83% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,560 14% 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% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Pownal 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brattleboro and Pownal 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 | — | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.