Compare towns
Bennington vs Brattleboro vs Newfields vs Williston
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 the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Newfields | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
12,122 |
2,023Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% 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% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Williston 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% 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% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Newfields School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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 |
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.