Compare towns

Bennington vs Dunbarton vs Springfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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.

MeasureBenningtonDunbartonSpringfield
People
Population
15,249Highest
3,097Lowest
9,084
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.7±2.3
15% above U.S.
48±3.7Highest
23% above U.S.
43.2±3.7Lowest
11% above U.S.
Dunbarton 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
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
Dunbarton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.2%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bennington and Dunbarton 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
26% below U.S.
$124,348±$21kHighest
54% above U.S.
$66,571±$13k
18% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$213,300±$15k
36% below U.S.
$484,100±$33kHighest
46% above U.S.
$192,400±$20kLowest
42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,133±$63
20% below U.S.
$1,166±$70Highest
17% below U.S.
$963±$100Lowest
32% below U.S.
Dunbarton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,513Lowest
45% above U.S.
$8,233Highest
164% above U.S.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.8%±14.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.7%±60.7
U.S.: 51.1%
49.6%±15.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bennington and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1958Lowest
22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #58 of 70 in VT #33 of 120 in NH #64 of 70 in VT
School district Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 Dunbarton School District 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

U.S. 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.