Compare towns
Bennington vs Castleton vs Berlin vs Shaftsbury
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 people working from home (15.1%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Shaftsbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
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.
| Measure | Bennington | Castleton | Berlin | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
4,453 |
2,880Lowest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
43±6.6 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shaftsbury and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$86,071±$24k 6% above VT |
| Berlin and Shaftsbury 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 |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$267,300±$24k 16% below VT |
| Berlin and Shaftsbury 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT |
| Berlin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Highest 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$4,015 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
25 minHighest 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington and Berlin 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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.