Compare towns
Bethel vs Windsor vs North Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethel has the most homeowners (83.6%).
Windsor has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
North Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Bethel | Windsor | North Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,736 |
3,554Highest |
1,336Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
43.9±10Lowest about the VT average |
| Bethel and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9 VT: 21.4% |
31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| North Bennington and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,822±$7kHighest 7% below VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$68,571±$10k 16% below VT |
| Bethel and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$41k 25% below VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$313,000±$40kHighest about the VT average |
| North Bennington and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,335±$220 8% above VT |
$1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT |
| North Bennington and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,168Lowest about the VT average |
$5,209 3% above VT |
$5,590Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.7%±26.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
61.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 10 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1957 19 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| North Bennington and Windsor 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.