Compare towns

Bennington vs Proctor 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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Proctor has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Brattleboro 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.

MeasureBenningtonProctorBrattleboro
People
Population
15,249Highest
1,794Lowest
12,122
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.7±2.3
4% above VT
42.4±6.4Lowest
about the VT average
45.6±4.5Highest
6% above VT
Brattleboro and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.7%±2.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.8%±4.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
19%±2.8
VT: 17.9%
Proctor and Brattleboro 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%
22.4%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.5%±3.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Brattleboro 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%
28.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
3.6%±1.7Lowest
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
$74,167±$12kHighest
9% below VT
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below VT
Proctor 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
$209,900±$17kLowest
34% below VT
$257,300±$18kHighest
19% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,133±$63Highest
8% below VT
$1,029±$202Lowest
17% below VT
$1,074±$58
13% below VT
Bennington and Brattleboro 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
$4,032Lowest
20% below VT
$5,700Highest
13% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.8%±14.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
37.3%±16.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±9.6
VT: 48.4%
Bennington and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
16.2%
VT: 10.1%
17.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
86.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
58.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Highest
15 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1955
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
27% below VT
22 minHighest
6% below VT
19 min
19% below VT
Work from home
15.1%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
9.4%±4.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.9%±4Highest
VT: 16.9%
Brattleboro 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 — #33 of 70 in VT
School district Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School Proctor Junior/Senior High School Brattleboro Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.7Highest
8.7Lowest
9.0
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.