Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Williston vs Hinsdale 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 housing (typical home built 1955).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Hinsdale has the oldest population (median age 53.3).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Williston | Hinsdale | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,122 |
10,144 |
3,997Lowest |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
53.3±10.6Highest 37% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Hinsdale 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15%±4.5Lowest 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%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hinsdale 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
12.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$69,191±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$59,446±$7k 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$200,700±$19kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58 24% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,050±$409Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700Highest 83% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$4,899 57% above U.S. |
$4,513Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.8%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Hinsdale 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #110 of 120 in NH | #58 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Hinsdale School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | Hinsdale High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
— | 7.2Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.