Compare towns
Bennington vs Orleans 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).
Pownal has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Orleans | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
809Lowest |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
41.7±5.8Lowest 3% 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% |
17.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orleans 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% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Orleans 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 |
$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT |
$64,163±$21kHighest 21% below VT |
| Pownal and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
$256,600±$32kHighest 19% below VT |
| 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 8% below VT |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
$944±$139 24% below VT |
| 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 10% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$3,560 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.