Compare towns
Monkton vs Bennington vs Middlesex vs Starksboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monkton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Starksboro has the most kids (26.4% 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 | Monkton | Bennington | Middlesex | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,999 |
15,249Highest |
1,943 |
1,939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±5.4Highest 9% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
| Monkton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
17.4%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50% VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,688±$28kHighest 47% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$82,188±$15k about the VT average |
| Monkton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $379,900±$18kHighest 20% above VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$287,700±$42k 9% below VT |
| Monkton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,301±$120 5% above VT |
$1,133±$63Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,306±$91 6% above VT |
| Middlesex and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,887 17% above VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±64 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.6% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 24% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±4.9 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Monkton 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— | — |
| 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.