What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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

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