Compare towns
Addison vs Bennington vs Springfield vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Addison | Bennington | Springfield | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,175 |
15,249Highest |
9,084 |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6 23% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
| Waltham and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7kHighest 31% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
| Addison and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23kHighest 14% above VT |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
| Addison and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,096±$113 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831Highest 16% above VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$5,714 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Springfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
14.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.