Compare towns
Bennington vs Mapleton vs Shaftsbury
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 people working from home (15.1%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Shaftsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
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 | Mapleton | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,884Lowest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43±6.6 11% above U.S. |
| Bennington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shaftsbury and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bennington and Shaftsbury 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% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$86,071±$24k 7% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Shaftsbury 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$267,300±$24kHighest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 20% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,079±$54 24% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Shaftsbury 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,015 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.7%±36 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Shaftsbury 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% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bennington and Mapleton 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 | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — |
| 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.