Compare towns

Bennington vs Lowell 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).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Springfield has the highest household income ($67k).

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.

MeasureBenningtonLowellSpringfield
People
Population
15,249Highest
1,070Lowest
9,084
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%
VT: +2.8%
+0.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.7±2.3Highest
4% above VT
32.9±6.5Lowest
24% below VT
43.2±3.7
about the VT average
Bennington and Springfield 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%
30.7%±6.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.6%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
25.2%±2.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
12.3%±4.1Lowest
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%Highest
VT: 43.8%
19.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
23.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
2.8%±1.9
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.4Lowest
VT: 7%
Bennington and Lowell 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
$57,404±$15kLowest
29% below VT
$66,571±$13kHighest
18% below VT
Springfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$213,300±$15kHighest
33% below VT
$183,400±$33kLowest
42% below VT
$192,400±$20k
39% below VT
Bennington and Springfield 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
$945±$46Lowest
23% below VT
$963±$100
22% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,513
10% below VT
$2,810Lowest
44% below VT
$4,807Highest
5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.8%±14.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
26.3%±92.9Lowest
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%
9.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.1%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
1958Lowest
18 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
27% below VT
55 minHighest
135% above VT
27 min
16% above VT
Work from home
15.1%±4.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
7.5%±2.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
15.1%±5.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
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 Lowell 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

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.