Compare towns
Windham vs Bennington vs Middlesex vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Andover has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Windham | Bennington | Middlesex | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
15,249Highest |
1,943 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
| Andover and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
| Middlesex and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
| Andover and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,133±$63Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Middlesex 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 | — | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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 |
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.