Compare towns
Bennington vs Mendon vs Windham 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).
Mendon has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Mendon | Windham | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,113 |
594Lowest |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
| Mendon and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro 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 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Brattleboro 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 |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Mendon and Windham 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 |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Mendon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
| Mendon and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Bennington 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% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 27% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Windham 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 | — | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | — | — | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | — | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.