Compare towns
Bennington vs Williston vs Durham
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Durham has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
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 | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,220 |
10,144Highest |
2,641Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.8 20% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
48.8±5.1Highest 25% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±7Highest 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$81,471±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$245,300±$26k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$344Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$994±$844 30% below 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. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,728Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±29 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.3%±40.8Lowest 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±7.8 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #100 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL |
| 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.