Compare towns
Bennington vs Brattleboro vs Ossipee 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%).
Ossipee has the most homeowners (82%).
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 | Ossipee | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
12,122 |
4,521Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% 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. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Ossipee 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% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee 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% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee 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% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% 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% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Brattleboro 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. |
$90,521±$22kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$65,625±$7k 19% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Barre 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. |
$325,500±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,093±$58 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 45% above U.S. |
$5,700Highest 83% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,192 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Bennington 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% |
8.1%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% |
82%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. |
1979Highest 1 yr 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. |
33 minHighest 27% above 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% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest 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 | #100 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 | Governor Wentworth Regional 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 | None in town | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
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.