Compare towns
Bennington vs Williston vs Sheldon vs Wales
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 homeowners (90.7%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($176k median).
Wales has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
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 | Sheldon | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,220 |
10,144Highest |
2,216Lowest |
3,015 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±5.8 20% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
48.9±7.6Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.9±6.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Sheldon and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wales and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sheldon 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
13.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% 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% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Sheldon 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. |
$71,214±$5kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$88,590±$19k 10% 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±$24k 27% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$175,900±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$244,800±$33k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$344 33% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$818±$84Lowest 42% below U.S. |
$950±$503 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,591 47% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,037Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,782 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±29 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20.5%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sheldon and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 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 26% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Bennington 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 | — | #321 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.