Compare towns
Bennington vs Putnam 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).
Putnam has the most homeowners (95.9%).
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 | Putnam | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
540Lowest |
9,084 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest 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% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Putnam 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. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
| Putnam 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. |
$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 20% below U.S. |
— | $963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 45% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5Highest 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 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | 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 |
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.