Compare towns
Bennington vs Williston vs Windsor 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k 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 | Windsor | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
10,144 |
2,060Lowest |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44.6±12.3Lowest 3% above VT |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±8.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor 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 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| 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 27% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$51,197±$4kLowest 37% below VT |
$58,241±$8k 28% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$170,300±$22kLowest 46% below VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,002±$107Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
31.4%±20Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
58.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer 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 |
20 min 16% below VT |
22 minHighest 6% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | 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 | 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.