Compare towns
Bennington vs Brookline vs Castleton 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 most renters (41.6% rent).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
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 | Brookline | Castleton | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
531Lowest |
4,453 |
9,084 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Brookline and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Brookline and Castleton 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 |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Brookline and Castleton 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 |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 10% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Castleton 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% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #64 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 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | — | 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.