Compare towns
Bennington vs Underhill vs Middlesex 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 most affordable homes ($213k median).
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Brattleboro has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Underhill | Middlesex | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
3,141 |
1,943Lowest |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
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% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Middlesex 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% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Middlesex 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 |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Middlesex and Underhill 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 |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% 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 | $4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Underhill 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 | #2 of 70 in VT | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | — | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.