Compare towns
Bennington vs Williston vs Hoosick 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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Hoosick has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Williston | Hoosick | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
10,144 |
6,671Lowest |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
44.9±5.5 15% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Hoosick and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$63,372±$21k 22% below U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$177,200±$21kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$881±$148Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 45% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$4,071Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$5,700Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
43%±13.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Brattleboro 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #62 of 484 in NY | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | HOOSICK FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | HOOSICK FALLS HIGH SCHOOL | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 9.7 |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.