Compare towns
Bennington vs Middlesex vs Springfield vs Worcester
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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | Middlesex | Springfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
1,943 |
9,084 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Bennington 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 27% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Middlesex and Bennington 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 |
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.