Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Williston vs Newfields 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Williston | Newfields | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,122 |
10,144 |
2,023Lowest |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%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% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$59,446±$7k 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Williston 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. |
$5,592 79% 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 | 46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest 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% |
95.3%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. |
1991 11 yrs newer 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. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Williston 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Newfields School District | 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 |
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.