Compare towns
Castleton vs Bennington vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% 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 | Castleton | Bennington | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
15,249Highest |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
| Bennington and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
| Franklin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$247,400±$66kHighest 22% below VT |
| Franklin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Castleton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,513Highest 10% below VT |
$3,384 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
25 minHighest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.