Compare towns
Bennington vs Dummerston vs Springfield vs Williston
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).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Dummerston | Springfield | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
2,090Lowest |
9,084 |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Dummerston and Williston 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Williston 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Williston 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 |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston and Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 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% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| 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.