Compare towns
Bennington vs Lenox 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Lenox has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Pownal has the most expensive homes ($257k median).
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 | Lenox | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
8,658 |
3,265Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.1±2 16% above U.S. |
49±9.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Pownal and Lenox 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% |
19.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lenox and Bennington 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% |
21.9%±2.6Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$75,900±$8kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$64,163±$21k 21% below U.S. |
| Lenox 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±$15k 36% below U.S. |
$161,600±$9kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$256,600±$32kHighest 23% below U.S. |
| Pownal and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 20% below U.S. |
$935±$83Lowest 34% below U.S. |
$944±$139 33% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Highest 45% above U.S. |
$4,184 34% above U.S. |
$3,560Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±9.4Lowest 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% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pownal 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 | #412 of 484 in NY | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | ONEIDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · CANASTOTA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | CANASTOTA HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
13.6Lowest |
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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.