Compare towns
Bennington vs Unity vs Brattleboro
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 most affordable homes ($213k median).
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Unity | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,375Lowest |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brattleboro and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 26% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
| Unity and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Unity and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$5,700Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Unity School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | 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 |
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.