Compare towns
Bennington vs Castleton vs Enosburgh vs Ira
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).
Enosburgh has the most kids (21% under 18).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
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 | Enosburgh | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
4,453 |
2,804 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.6±3.9 6% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Enosburgh 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%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira 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% |
20.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$63,828±$17k 21% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Castleton and Ira 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 |
$223,100±$39k 30% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Ira 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 |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$942±$52 24% 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 |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±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% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
75.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington and Enosburgh 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 | #26 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | — |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.