Compare towns
Bennington vs Ludlow 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).
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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.
| Measure | Bennington | Ludlow | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,990Lowest |
9,084 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Ludlow and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Bennington 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% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% 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±$15k 33% below VT |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
| Bennington and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,890Highest about the VT average |
$4,807 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2Lowest 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% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow and Bennington 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 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | 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.