Compare towns
Bennington vs Highgate vs Williamstown
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).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Highgate | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
3,528Lowest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
| Bennington and Highgate 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% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Bennington 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Williamstown and Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Highest 10% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Bennington 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% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington and Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
9.8 |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.