Compare towns
Bennington vs Berlin vs Sheldon vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Berlin | Sheldon | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
2,880 |
2,267Lowest |
9,084 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Springfield 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% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin 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% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Berlin 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 |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Berlin and Sheldon 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 |
$273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Berlin and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
| Sheldon and Berlin 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 |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 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 | 13.2% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #58 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT | — | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town | 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.