Compare towns
Bennington vs Keene 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 most affordable homes ($213k median).
Keene has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).
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.
| Measure | Bennington | Keene | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249 |
22,939Highest |
3,265Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Pownal 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% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest 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% |
44.1%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% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$64,163±$21k 21% below U.S. |
| Keene 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. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$256,600±$32kHighest 23% below U.S. |
| Pownal and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 45% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$3,560Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Pownal 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% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pownal and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Keene School District | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
12.3Lowest |
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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.