Compare towns

Bennington vs Ogunquit vs Hoosick 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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Hoosick has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% 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.

MeasureBenningtonOgunquitHoosickShaftsbury
People
Population
15,249Highest
1,379Lowest
6,671
3,607
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.7±2.3
15% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
44.9±5.5
15% above U.S.
43±6.6Lowest
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.7%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
26.5%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Shaftsbury and Hoosick 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%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.7%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
21.8%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
24%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bennington and Ogunquit 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.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$63,372±$21k
22% below U.S.
$86,071±$24k
7% above U.S.
Ogunquit 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.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$177,200±$21kLowest
47% below U.S.
$267,300±$24k
20% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,133±$63Highest
20% below U.S.
—
$881±$148Lowest
38% 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.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$4,071
31% above U.S.
$4,015Lowest
29% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.8%±14.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43%±13.4
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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
25 min
7% below U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.3%±5.9
U.S.: 15.1%
7.2%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #58 of 70 in VT — #62 of 484 in NY #62 of 70 in VT
School district Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 — HOOSICK FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
High school in town Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School — HOOSICK FALLS HIGH SCHOOL None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
14.7Highest
—
9.7Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
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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.