Compare towns
Bennington vs Brighton vs Springfield vs Brattleboro
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).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Springfield has the most homeowners (67.7%).
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Brighton | Springfield | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,167Lowest |
9,084 |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Brattleboro and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro 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% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$66,571±$13kHighest 18% below VT |
$58,241±$8k 28% below VT |
| Springfield and Bennington 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 |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$192,400±$20k 39% below VT |
$257,300±$18kHighest 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Bennington and Brattleboro 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 |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
17.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1967Highest 9 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brattleboro 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 | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Brighton School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | Springfield High School | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 14.3 |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.