Compare towns
Bennington vs Castleton vs Chester
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%).
Castleton has the highest household income ($74k).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
4,453 |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
| Castleton and Chester 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 |
$232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
| Chester and Castleton 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±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% 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 | $4,513Highest 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington and Chester 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 | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.