Compare towns
Bennington vs Brattleboro vs Mapleton vs Putney
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 most kids (22.2% under 18).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k 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 | Brattleboro | Mapleton | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
12,122 |
1,884Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below 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%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest 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% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Putney 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±$18k 23% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Putney and Brattleboro 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±$277 57% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% 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. |
$5,313 70% 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% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Putney 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% 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. |
1977Highest 3 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. |
18 min 32% 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% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brattleboro and Putney 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 | — | #32 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.