Compare towns
Bennington vs Chester 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).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Chester | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
2,992Lowest |
9,084 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Chester 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Chester 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 |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$66,571±$13kHighest 18% below VT |
| Springfield and Chester 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 |
$232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Chester 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 |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 10% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest 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% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #58 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
8.7Lowest |
14.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.