Compare towns
Bennington vs Brattleboro vs Middlesex vs Newfane
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Brattleboro has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
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 | Middlesex | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
12,122 |
1,943 |
1,456Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Middlesex 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 27% below VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
58.5% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Middlesex 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 | — | — |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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 Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.