Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Castleton vs Williston vs Orford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Orford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | Bethlehem | Castleton | Williston | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,537 |
4,453 |
10,144Highest |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18k 5% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
| Williston and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
| Williston and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418 74% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,836Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Williston 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 | #34 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | — | 9.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.