Compare towns
Williston vs Bennington vs Wilder
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Williston | Bennington | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
15,249Highest |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44.7±2.3Lowest 4% above VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,133±$63Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest 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 | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 16% below VT |
17 min 27% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.