Compare towns

Brattleboro vs Windham vs Bennington

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brattleboro has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k 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.

MeasureBrattleboroWindhamBennington
People
Population
7,657Lowest
16,038Highest
15,249
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±5.9
14% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
44.7±2.3Highest
15% above U.S.
Bennington and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.8%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bennington and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.6Highest
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
$52,734±$12kLowest
35% below U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$59,446±$7k
26% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$234,600±$20k
29% below U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$213,300±$15kLowest
36% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,113±$67Lowest
21% below U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,133±$63
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,490
76% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,513Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.1%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
68.8%±14.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bennington and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
21.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
58.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
17 min
35% below U.S.
Work from home
11.8%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham 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 #33 of 70 in VT #13 of 120 in NH #58 of 70 in VT
School district — Windham School District Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
High school in town — Windham High School Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8Lowest
14.7Highest
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.