Compare towns
Bennington vs Meredith 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).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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.
| Measure | Bennington | Meredith | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
6,758Lowest |
9,084 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%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% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$87,019±$19kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Springfield 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. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Meredith 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. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 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% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
14.3 |
| 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.