Compare towns

Bennington vs Brunswick 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).
Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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.

MeasureBenningtonBrunswickPownal
People
Population
15,249
22,336Highest
3,265Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-7.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.7±2.3
15% above U.S.
40±2.8Lowest
about the U.S. average
49±9.1Highest
26% above U.S.
Pownal and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
16.4%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Bennington and Brunswick 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%
22.9%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.5%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Pownal 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%
53.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
13.3%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$59,446±$7kLowest
26% below U.S.
$74,952±$6kHighest
7% below U.S.
$64,163±$21k
21% below U.S.
Brunswick 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±$15kLowest
36% below U.S.
$376,300±$15kHighest
13% above U.S.
$256,600±$32k
23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,133±$63
20% below U.S.
$1,469±$99Highest
4% above U.S.
$944±$139Lowest
33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,513
45% above U.S.
$4,756Highest
52% above U.S.
$3,560Lowest
14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.8%±14.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±8.8
U.S.: 51.1%
48.4%±18.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bennington and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
23 minHighest
11% below U.S.
21 min
20% below U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±6.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Brunswick 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 #30 of 133 in ME #67 of 70 in VT
School district Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
High school in town Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School Brunswick High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
14.7Highest
10.9Lowest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.