Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Berlin vs Middlesex vs Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brattleboro has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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.
| Measure | Brattleboro | Berlin | Middlesex | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,122 |
2,880 |
1,943Lowest |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
| Berlin and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700 13% above VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 19% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — | #58 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | — | 14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.