What stands out worked out from the figures below

Panton has the most kids (24.9% 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	Panton	North Bennington
People
Population	690Lowest	1,336Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+4.4%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.7±3.8Lowest about the VT average	43.9±10Highest about the VT average
	North Bennington and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%	10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	16.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 21.4%	31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%	41.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%	21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,667±$10kHighest 7% above VT	$68,571±$10kLowest 16% below VT
	Panton and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT	$313,000±$40kLowest about the VT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,410±$130Lowest 14% above VT	$1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT
	North Bennington and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,695Highest 33% above VT	$5,590Lowest 11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61%±39Highest VT: 48.4%	53.7%±26.9Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Panton and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%	7.4%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	61.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT	1957Lowest 19 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 11% above VT	18 minLowest 24% below VT
Work from home	26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9%	17.3%±7.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Panton 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.