Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Bennington vs Rutland vs Chesterfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Bennington has the youngest population (median age 44.7).
Rutland has the most affordable homes ($186k median).
Chesterfield has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Brattleboro | Bennington | Rutland | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,122 |
15,249 |
15,712Highest |
3,622Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
49±2.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
46.8±8.7 20% above U.S. |
| Rutland and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chesterfield and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest 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 | $58,241±$8k 28% below U.S. |
$59,446±$7k 26% below U.S. |
$57,675±$8kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$102,370±$40kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
$213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
$185,500±$16kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$373,500±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58 24% below U.S. |
$1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$995±$65Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,324±$1kHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700 83% above U.S. |
$4,513Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,657 49% above U.S. |
$6,344Highest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
16 minLowest 39% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chesterfield 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 | #33 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT | #51 of 70 in VT | #52 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Rutland City School District | Chesterfield School District |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Rutland Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
14.7Highest |
12.3 |
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| 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.