Compare towns
North Bennington vs Braintree vs Castleton vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Ludlow has the most renters (48.6% 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 | North Bennington | Braintree | Castleton | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,336 |
1,026 |
4,453Highest |
808Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.9±10 about the VT average |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.9%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±0.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6 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 | $68,571±$10k 16% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
| Braintree and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $313,000±$40kHighest about the VT average |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$304,000±$32k 4% 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 | $1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,018±$91 18% 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 | $5,590Highest 11% above VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,237 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±26.9 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.4% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 19 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and North 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 | — |
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| 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.