Compare towns
Bennington vs Worcester vs Brookline vs Hoosick
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).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Hoosick has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Worcester | Brookline | Hoosick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
831 |
531Lowest |
6,671 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
44.9±5.5 15% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Brookline 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hoosick and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bennington and Hoosick 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Bennington 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. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$63,372±$21k 22% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$177,200±$21kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Worcester 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. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$881±$148Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 45% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,071Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43%±13.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Brookline 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Brookline 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 | — | — | #62 of 484 in NY |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | HOOSICK FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | — | HOOSICK FALLS HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | — | 9.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.