What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).

North Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brookline	North Bennington
People
Population	531Lowest	1,336Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+4.4%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT	43.9±10Lowest about the VT average
	Brookline and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±6Highest VT: 17.9%	10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4%	31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4%
	North Bennington and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%	41.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average	$68,571±$10kLowest 16% below VT
	Brookline and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT	$313,000±$40kHighest about the VT average
	North Bennington and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT	$1,447±$278Lowest 17% above VT
	Brookline and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,000Lowest about the VT average	$5,590Highest 11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4%	53.7%±26.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	North Bennington and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%	7.4%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	61.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 1 yr older than VT	1957Lowest 19 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 21% above VT	18 minLowest 24% below VT
Work from home	20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9%	17.3%±7.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Brookline and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.