Compare towns

Bennington vs Pittsford 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%).
Pittsford has the highest household income ($70k).
Pownal has the most expensive homes ($257k median).

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.

MeasureBenningtonPittsfordPownal
People
Population
15,249Highest
2,892Lowest
3,265
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.3%
VT: +2.8%
-7.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.7±2.3Lowest
4% above VT
47.7±6.3
11% above VT
49±9.1Highest
14% above VT
Pownal and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.7%±2.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.1%±5.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
16.4%±5.3
VT: 17.9%
Bennington and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.2%±2.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.4%±6.1
VT: 21.4%
27.5%±6.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Pownal and Pittsford 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%
37%Highest
VT: 43.8%
28.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
3%±2.1
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.5Lowest
VT: 7%
Bennington and Pittsford 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
27% below VT
$69,705±$7kHighest
14% below VT
$64,163±$21k
21% below VT
Pittsford and Pownal 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
$197,000±$33kLowest
38% 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
$781±$167Lowest
37% 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
$3,378Lowest
33% below VT
$3,560
29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.8%±14.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
18.5%±12.3Lowest
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%
11.3%
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
80.6%
VT: 73.2%
92.6%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
15 yrs older than VT
1972Highest
4 yrs older than VT
1969
7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
27% below VT
25 minHighest
7% above VT
21 min
10% below VT
Work from home
15.1%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
10.1%±6.9Lowest
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 #54 of 70 in VT #67 of 70 in VT
School district Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 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
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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.