Compare towns
Bennington vs Braintree vs Castleton vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
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 | Braintree | Castleton | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,026Lowest |
4,453 |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Braintree and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71kHighest 29% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
| Castleton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
| Castleton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 10% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | — | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.