Compare towns
Bennington vs Moretown vs Calais
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 affordable homes ($213k median).
Moretown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Moretown | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,532Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
46.8±3.8Highest 9% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Moretown 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% |
17.3%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais 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% |
18%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 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% |
58.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Bennington 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 |
$104,423±$7kHighest 29% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Moretown 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 |
$380,800±$36k 20% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Moretown 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 |
$838±$462Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,506 9% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
16.1%±14.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Calais 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% |
3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Moretown 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 | — | — |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.