Compare towns
Union vs Bennington vs Appleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Union | Bennington | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663 |
15,249Highest |
1,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
$59,446±$7k 26% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Union and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$4,513Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Bennington 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Appleton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| 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.