Compare towns
Bennington vs Mapleton vs Springfield vs Unity
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).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Springfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Mapleton | Springfield | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,884 |
9,084 |
1,375Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Bennington 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20k 42% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Unity and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 45% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Unity School District |
| 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 |
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.