Compare towns
Bennington vs Reading vs Springfield vs Pownal
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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Pownal has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Reading | Springfield | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
699Lowest |
9,084 |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
49±9.1 14% above VT |
| Reading and Pownal 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Pownal 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$64,163±$21k 21% below VT |
| Reading 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 33% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$256,600±$32k 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
| Bennington and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Reading 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Pownal 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 | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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.