Compare towns
Vernon vs Benson vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the most expensive homes ($285k median).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Vernon | Benson | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,709 |
784Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
| Benson and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Vernon and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Vernon and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$214Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Benson and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,191 3% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Brattleboro 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 | #30 of 70 in VT | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Vernon School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.