Compare towns
Bennington vs Dover vs Dummerston 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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Dover | Dummerston | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,466Lowest |
2,090 |
9,084 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Dover and Dummerston 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Dover 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Dummerston and Dover 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 10% below VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Dover 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 |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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.