Compare towns
Ludlow vs Castleton vs North Bennington vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has the oldest population (median age 48.7).
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
North Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
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 | Ludlow | Castleton | North Bennington | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 808Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,336 |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43.9±10 about the VT average |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Ludlow and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±0.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| North Bennington and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| North Bennington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,667±$19k 30% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$68,571±$10k 16% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Castleton and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,000±$32k 4% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$313,000±$40kHighest about the VT average |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| North Bennington and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$91 18% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| North Bennington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 16% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,590Highest 11% above VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.7%±26.9 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.4% VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.4% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1957 19 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.