Compare towns
Bennington vs Calais vs Castleton vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Calais | Castleton | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,713Lowest |
4,453 |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Bennington and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Calais and Middlesex 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | — |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.