Compare towns
Bennington vs Ripton vs Springfield vs Brattleboro
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Brattleboro has the most people working from home (17.9%).
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 | Ripton | Springfield | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
508Lowest |
9,084 |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Brattleboro 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro 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 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Brattleboro 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
— | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Bennington and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
58.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brattleboro and Ripton 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 | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | Springfield High School | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 14.3 |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.