Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Dover vs Williston 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 oldest population (median age 45.6).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Dover | Williston | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,122 |
33,364Highest |
10,144Lowest |
15,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Williston 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% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Bennington 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 U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$59,446±$7k 26% below U.S. |
| Williston and Dover 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. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Williston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
| Williston and Dover 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. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$4,513Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Dover 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Dover School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
12.7 |
— | 14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.