Compare towns
Colchester vs Williston vs Barre vs Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colchester has the youngest population (median age 39.3).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Colchester | Williston | Barre | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,648Highest |
10,144 |
8,412Lowest |
15,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.4Lowest 9% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
| Williston and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,891±$9k 21% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
| Williston and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$25k 25% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$122 19% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,471 9% above VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest 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 | 7% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.1% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
58.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 15% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Colchester 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 | #18 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Colchester School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Colchester High School | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.