Compare towns
Bennington vs Benson vs Springfield vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% 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 | Bennington | Benson | Springfield | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
784Lowest |
9,084 |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Benson and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Benson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
| Benson and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
| Bennington and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 10% below VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | Springfield High School | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 14.3 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.