Compare towns
Pownal 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
Pownal has the oldest population (median age 49).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
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 | Pownal | Newfields | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,265 |
2,023Lowest |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±9.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
| Pownal and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pownal and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest 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 | $64,163±$21k 21% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,600±$32k 23% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,560Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,513 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Pownal 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 | #67 of 70 in VT | — | #58 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Newfields School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.