Compare towns
Bennington vs Cavendish vs Reading vs Brattleboro
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).
Cavendish has the highest household income ($89k).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Brattleboro has the most kids (19% under 18).
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 | Cavendish | Reading | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,242 |
699Lowest |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Lowest 4% above VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
| Reading and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro and Reading 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% |
23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Cavendish 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 |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Cavendish and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Bennington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 10% below VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Reading 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% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Cavendish 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | — | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.