Compare towns
Bennington vs Bowdoin vs Mapleton vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Bowdoin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Springfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
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 | Bowdoin | Mapleton | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
3,188 |
1,884Lowest |
9,084 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
| Bennington and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bennington and Springfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Mapleton 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 26% below U.S. |
$91,239±$13k 13% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
$292,800±$71kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20k 42% below U.S. |
| Bowdoin 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 20% below U.S. |
— | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 45% above U.S. |
$3,375 8% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #58 of 70 in VT | #28 of 133 in ME | — | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 |
U.S. 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.