Compare towns
Bennington vs Middlesex vs Putney vs Pownal
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 renters (41.6% rent).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Pownal has the oldest population (median age 49).
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 | Middlesex | Putney | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,622 |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
49±9.1Highest 14% above VT |
| 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%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±6.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$64,163±$21k 21% below VT |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$256,600±$32k 19% below VT |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$944±$139 24% below VT |
| Middlesex and Bennington 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Putney 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
92.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.