Compare towns

Bennington vs Morristown vs Williston

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).
Morristown has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).

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.

MeasureBenningtonMorristownWilliston
People
Population
15,249Highest
5,722Lowest
10,144
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+4%
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.7±2.3Lowest
4% above VT
47.8±4.6Highest
11% above VT
45.4±4.5
5% above VT
Morristown and Williston 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%
11.5%±3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Williston 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%
25.5%±5.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Morristown 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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
40.7%
VT: 43.8%
54.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
5.6%±2.7Lowest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7
VT: 7%
Bennington and Williston 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
$66,273±$5k
18% below VT
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$213,300±$15kLowest
33% below VT
$298,600±$48k
6% below VT
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,133±$63Lowest
8% below VT
$1,214±$123
about the VT average
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,513Lowest
10% below VT
$4,838
4% below VT
$5,592Highest
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.8%±14.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
40%±12.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4
VT: 48.4%
Bennington and Williston 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%
9.8%
VT: 10.1%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
65%
VT: 73.2%
75.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
15 yrs older than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
27% below VT
21 minHighest
10% below VT
20 min
16% below VT
Work from home
15.1%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
11%±4.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Williston and Bennington 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 #35 of 70 in VT #11 of 70 in VT
School district Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School Peoples Academy None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
14.7Highest
12.4Lowest
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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.