Compare towns
Union vs Bennington vs Limerick vs Hope
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 most renters (41.6% rent).
Limerick has the highest household income ($101k).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
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 | Limerick | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
15,249Highest |
3,400 |
1,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
40.4±9.2Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
| Bennington and Hope 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%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bennington and Union 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$101,172±$15kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
| Limerick and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$269,400±$29k 19% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,133±$63Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,758±$407Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Limerick and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276 5% above U.S. |
$4,513Highest 45% above U.S. |
$2,520Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.2%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Union 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 | — | Hope 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 | 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.