Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Castleton vs Williston vs Whitefield
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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Whitefield has the most renters (37.4% rent).
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 | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,537 |
4,453 |
10,144Highest |
2,516Lowest |
| 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% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
51.4±4.6Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Whitefield and Bethlehem 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% |
14.3%±4.6Lowest 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%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitefield and Bethlehem 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest 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% |
5.9%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18k 5% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$63,125±$12kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Williston and Bethlehem 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. |
$240,400±$22k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,077±$160Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418 74% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,394 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Whitefield 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% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6%Lowest 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. |
1965Lowest 15 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 about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
7.2%±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 | #86 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | None in town | White Mountains Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Highest |
— | — | 7.9Lowest |
| 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.