Compare towns
Bennington vs Ludlow vs Springfield vs Brattleboro
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).
Ludlow has the most expensive homes ($304k median).
Springfield has the most homeowners (67.7%).
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Ludlow | Springfield | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
808Lowest |
9,084 |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
| Ludlow and Brattleboro 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% |
13.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro 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% |
30.4%±0.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Brattleboro 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 |
$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
$66,571±$13kHighest 18% below VT |
$58,241±$8k 28% 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±$15k 33% below VT |
$304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Ludlow and Brattleboro 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 |
$1,018±$91 18% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Bennington and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 10% below VT |
$4,237Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 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% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Highest 15 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brattleboro and Ludlow 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 | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | — | Springfield High School | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 14.3 |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.