Compare towns

Bennington vs Durham vs Williston

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 ($244k median).
Durham has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).

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.

MeasureBenningtonDurhamWilliston
People
Population
3,220
2,641Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.7±5.8
20% above U.S.
48.8±5.1Highest
25% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Lowest
17% above U.S.
Durham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.5%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.3%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
22.4%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
24.2%±7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Durham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
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
$89,050±$10k
10% above U.S.
$81,471±$15kLowest
about the U.S. average
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
Williston and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$244,400±$24kLowest
27% below U.S.
$245,300±$26k
26% below U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$942±$344Lowest
33% below U.S.
$994±$844
30% below U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
Williston and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,591
47% above U.S.
$3,728Lowest
20% above U.S.
$5,592Highest
79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.4%±29
U.S.: 51.1%
19.3%±40.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Williston and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
92%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
23% above U.S.
33 minHighest
27% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
Work from home
10.5%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±7.8
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Williston and Durham 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 — #100 of 484 in NY #11 of 70 in VT
School district — CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town — CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.9
—
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.