Compare towns
Bennington vs Williston vs Francestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Francestown has the most homeowners (95.3%).
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 | Bennington | Williston | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
10,144Highest |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
51.2±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Francestown and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Francestown and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$104,063±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Williston and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$408,200±$34k 23% above U.S. |
| Williston and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,358±$256 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 91% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$8,014Highest 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±77Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Francestown and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 40% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Francestown and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.