Compare towns
North Bennington vs Williston 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 the shortest commute (18 min average).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Williston | Castleton | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,336 |
10,144Highest |
4,453 |
808Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.9±10 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT |
| Ludlow and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±0.5 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+ | 41.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
| Williston 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±$40k about the VT average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$304,000±$32k 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,447±$278 17% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,018±$91Lowest 18% below VT |
| Williston and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,590 11% above VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above 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% |
46.9%±17.4 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.4% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 19 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 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 |
20 min 16% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
21 minHighest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.