Compare towns
Bennington vs Williston vs Hoosick vs Pownal
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 renters (41.6% rent).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Hoosick has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Pownal has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
10,144 |
6,671 |
3,265Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest 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. |
49±9.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Pownal and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest 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% |
27.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pownal 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% |
28.2% 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%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest 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±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$63,372±$21k 22% below U.S. |
$64,163±$21k 21% 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. |
$256,600±$32k 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. |
$944±$139 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 45% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,071 31% above U.S. |
$3,560Lowest 14% 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% |
48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest 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. |
1969 11 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. |
21 min 20% 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% |
16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Pownal 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 | #67 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 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | HOOSICK FALLS HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 9.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.